Cucumbers are just the starting point for this versatile salad! See variations to create new combinations all year long! Serves 6 – 8 as a side, 4 as a main dish (just add a protein).
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (30 ml.)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (30 ml) + lime slices for garnish
- ¼ cup peanut butter, room temperature (60 gm.)
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce (hot chili sauce) (10 ml.)
- 1 tablespoon Fresh grated ginger (5 gm.)
- or ½ teaspoon ginger powder (1.5 gm)
- 2 teaspoons honey (10+ ml.) or a sprinkle of sugar substitute
- Pinch cayenne (optional)
- 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced (380 gm.)
- ½ cup chopped roasted peanuts or nuts of choice (85 gm.)
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves (25 leaves), sliced into ribbons (8 gm.)
- (Save a few whole leaves for garnish.)
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lime juice, peanut butter and sriracha sauce. Add ginger, honey and cayenne and stir to blend. If too thick, thin with a little cold water. If you like a thicker sauce, add more peanut or nut butter. Taste sauce and adjust to your liking.
- Thinly slice cucumbers.
- To prepare in advance, chop cucumbers, make the sauce and store ingredients separately in the fridge for up to five days.
- Just before serving, place drained cucumbers in a serving or mixing bowl and toss with sauce. Add half of the peanuts and half the mint and toss again. Garnish with remaining nuts, mint ribbons, mint leaves and lime slices.
- Variations
- Vegetables: Add or substitute shredded cabbage, carrots, beets or jicama.
- Herbs: Substitute cilantro or parsley for mint.
- Fruits: Add grated apple, mandarin oranges, raisins or dried chopped fruit.
- Nut butters: Substitute almond or sunflower butter or nut butter of choice.
- Oil: Replace peanut butter with 2 tablespoons light olive or vegetable oil.
- Nuts: Substitute chopped roasted pistachios, almonds, cashews or sesame seeds.
- Protein: Add your choice of cooked chicken, pork, beef, fish, seafood, tofu or vegetarian protein.
- Grains/Seeds: Add a cooked grain (or grain substitute) like soba noodles, rice noodles, quinoa, wild rice or grain of choice.
Notes
Adapted from Everyday Food Light (Martha Stewart Living)