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Overhead view of Thai cucumber salad in a square white bowl on a rustic wooden surface. The salad is topped with crushed peanuts and garnished with cilantro. Around the bowl are scattered peanuts, cucumber halves, lime halves, and cilantro sprigs for a casual, fresh presentation.
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Thai Cucumber Salad

This Thai inspired cucumber salad is light, crisp, and refreshing with a spicy kick from chili peppers, a tangy-sweet dressing and a crunchy texture from roasted peanuts. It’s the perfect complement to just about any Thai-inspired meal, especially on a hot day!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 141kcal
Author: Nicole Gaffney

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ⅓ cup fresh lime juice from about 2 limes
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 medium-large shallot
  • ½ - 1 jalapeño or other chile pepper, adjust amount depending on desired level of heat
  • 2 medium cucumbers peeled only if the skin is bitter or thick, seeded only if they're too big and unpalatable
  • ¼ cup cilantro roughly chopped, loosely packed
  • ¼ cup peanuts roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
  2. Peel and thinly slice the shallot, then add it to the bowl. Let it sit while you prepare the other ingredients—this will help flavor the dressing and begin to lightly pickle the shallot.
  3. Thinly slice the jalapeño and add it to the bowl with the dressing and shallot.
  4. Thinly slice the cucumber and add it to the bowl. Roughly chop the cilantro and add that as well.
  5. Toss everything together until well combined, then spoon the mixture into a serving dish. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Salting the cucumbers beforehand helps remove excess liquid and keeps the salad from becoming soggy.
  • A mandolin slicer ensures thin, even cuts for a more delicate texture and better presentation.
  • Make the dressing ahead of time and let the shallots sit for at least 10 minutes to mellow and infuse the flavors.
  • Taste and adjust the dressing ingredients to find your own perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 480mg | Potassium: 458mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 299IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg
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