Description
This Din Tai Fung Cucumber recipe is healthy and crunchy. A simple salad dressing uses rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, and chili oil. This Asian-inspired cucumber dish serves as a refreshing appetizer or side for any Asian cuisine. It pairs wonderfully with noodles, dumplings, or rice and is best enjoyed chilled.
Last year, my husband went on a business trip to Taiwan, so I went with him. I tried different Taiwanese cuisines here, but one of my favorite things on their menu was spicy din tai fung cucumbers. I tried these din tai fung cucumbers when I returned to the USA. This dish was simple, even though I assumed it would require much work.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 Persian cucumbers
- 3 garlic cloves(minced)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp chilli oil
Instructions
- Preparing the Cucumber: Wash and dry the cucumbers using a paper towel. Slice your Persian cucumber into pieces that are 1/2-inch thick. In a medium bowl, place the cucumber slices and sprinkle them with salt. Allow the cucumber slices to rest for at least 30 minutes. Salt helps to draw out extra moisture. After 30 minutes, drain the excess water in the colander and rinse the cucumber; pat the cucumber dry with a paper towel.
- Make the Dressing: Add the cucumber pieces to a bowl. Add rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil, and salt. Toss to coat the cucumber pieces evenly.
- Assemble the Salad: Let the salad sit for at least 15 minutes. It will allow the flavors to absorb completely.
- Serve: Add din tai fung cucumber salad to a serving dish. Sesame seeds can be used as a garnish to add more crunch and taste.
Notes
- Use Fresh Cucumbers: The salad tastes better with fresher cucumbers. Always use crispy, clean cucumbers.
- Salt the cucumber slices: Thoroughly coat the cucumber with salt after cutting it. The salt will extract the bitter juices and excess moisture from the cucumber.
- Adjust the Seasoning: You can modify the amount of chili oil, soy sauce, and garlic to your taste.
- Chill Before Serving: Allow the salad to rest for 15 minutes to combine and enhance the flavors.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Category: Cuisines
- Cuisine: Taiwanese