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Japanese Cucumber Salad

Tossed with wakame seaweed and imitation crab meat, this sweet and tangy Japanese Cucumber Salad goes well with any Japanese-style meal. Make this refreshing side dish for your next potluck or dinner party. It will be a big hit!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 45 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

  • 2 Japanese or Persian cucumbers (or use ⅔ English cucumber)
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp dried wakame seaweed
  • 4 real or imitation crabmeat (skip for vegan/vegetarian; I used imitation crabmeat since I‘m allergic to crab)
  • toasted white sesame seeds (optional)
For the Dressing
  • 3 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned)
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • ½ Tbsp soy sauce
  • ¼ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp dashi (Japanese soup stock) (use standard Awase Dashi, dashi packet or powder, or Vegan Dashi)

Instructions

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  1. If you are using Japanese cucumber, this step called itazuri is necessary. Wash 2 Japanese or Persian cucumbers and sprinkle them with Diamond Crystal kosher salt. With both hands, rub the cucumber against the cutting board. It removes the pointy bumps on the cucumber and helps absorb the dressing.
  2. Alternate peeling ½-inch (1.3-cm) strips of skin lengthwise and leaving strips of skin intact. With this striped pattern, the cucumber slices have some decorative dark green accents and a little bit of extra crunchiness. Cut the cucumbers into thin slices, about ⅛-inch (3 mm) thickness (or even thinner).
  3. Sprinkle with Diamond Crystal kosher salt and rub the cucumber slices gently with your hands. Let it rest for 5 minutes or so until they are wilted. Then, quickly rinse the cucumber slices under cold water. Squeeze the cucumber to get rid of the water.
  4. Put 1 Tbsp dried wakame seaweed in a small bowl and soak in water for 10 minutes to rehydrate. Squeeze dry to get rid of the water.
  5. Cut 4 real or imitation crabmeat sticks in half and shred it with your hands. 
  6. In a small saucepan, combine the dressing ingredients: 3 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned), 1 Tbsp sugar, ½ Tbsp soy sauce, ¼ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and 2 Tbsp dashi (Japanese soup stock). Mix well. Then, heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  7. In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, wakame, and shredded crab sticks. Pour the dressing on top and mix together. Sprinkle toasted white sesame seeds and enjoy the salad at room temperature or chilled.
To Store
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  1. You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for a day. However, the crispness of the cucumbers will be lost and the seasoning may become diluted due to moisture released from the cucumber.

Nutrition Information

Calories 45kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 9g (3%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 3mg (1%) Sodium 264mg (11%) Potassium 42mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 34IU (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 7mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 45

% Daily Value*

Calories 45kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 264mg 11%
Potassium 42mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 34IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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