When the sun is up and you need something cooling to go with a crunch you need a well balanced Japanese style cucumber salad, Sunomono
Cucumbers are a well known low-calorie water-laden vegetable (fruit) we all rely on for a great salad. Belonging to the cucurbit family it is made of 96%water. This definitely is your option for clean hydrated eating.
Wondered why they are so useful in the spa treatments!! They supply a good amount of minerals in addition to the water content.
Cucumber is well known to help in heart burns, acidity and ulcer as a cooling soothing factor.
In addition the cucumber can keep your knees supple, help to keep your sugar levels in check and lower your cholesterol levels.
With a long list more to go, I guess we can now focus more on the recipe itself

It’s a very simple preparation for Sunomono. The recipe is from a restaurant I frequent for Japanese dig. In fact, I was mildly surprised that the recipe just tasted perfect. The balance between the sweet and sour elements brings out the uniqueness of this recipe. The nuttiness of the roasted sesame seeds adds the necessary creaminess to it.
The recipe is perfect when served immediately. Try overnight version too… I have come to like the way the cucumbers imbibe the flavours..and then add the roasted sesame seeds to bring in a bit more of the excitement.
I really like the ribbon cut to do this salad as it’s great to pick up with a chopstick, yet today I decided to go with the classic thin slice. So enjoy the lovely recipe and more salad recipes before you leave the site.
Save the recipe or print it out for your convenience.

Japanese Cucumber salad
Sayonara…

Japanese Cucumber Salad
Cooling salad
Ingredients
- 2 cucumber Japanese cucmbers
- salt to taste
for the dressing
- 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp sugar raw sugar/ any variety is ok
- 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Toasted sesame seeds white or black
Instructions
- Wash the cucumbers and slice them thin. You could use as thin long ribbons or as round cuts
- Add in the salt and let it sit for 5 minutes
- Squeeze out the water from the cucumbers after 5 minutes
- In a small mixing bowl mix together the rice vinegar, soy sauce and sugar
- Add in the cucumbers and toss well.
- Sprinkle the sesame seeds
- The recipe is ready.
Notes
Optionally you can toss in a few basil, mint or other herbs into the salad. Japanese cucumbers are thin and long without much of the seeds in the core.
Nutrition
Serving: 100gCalories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.004gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.003gSodium: 699mgPotassium: 204mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Refreshing salad !
We use crushed roasted peanuts in cucumber salad for nutty flavour..will try sesame seeds next time.
The indian recipe will not have mirin too nor the other flvourants. try this version, it tastes entirely different