This fresh and juicy cucumber and kale salad is inspired by flavours of Asian cuisine. For the dressing I turned to the Vietnamese nuóc châm – a balanced fusion of sweet, sour, salty, savory and spicy. In its simplest form, nuóc châm consists of water, sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and chilies. I also like to add a little bit of minced garlic for a more pungent flavour.
The Flavour Affair:
Cucumber + Kale + Nuóc Châm + Sesame Seeds + Coriander
Nuóc châm is already so flavourful that it doesn’t need much companionship. That said, sesame seeds contribute nicely with their earthy nuttiness, crunch and colour contrast. Coriander is a great finishing touch – I love how its fresh, slightly bittery taste adds lightness to savory dishes.
This combination makes a wonderful dressing for fresh vegetable salads and works particularly well with juicy cucumbers that are quick to absorb other flavours. I also decided to include kale into this salad to make it a bit more substantial and add a different texture.
If I had fresh chives or spring onions, I would have chopped some over for a little extra punch. But I didn’t, so I served extra chili flakes on the side for those of us who love a more noticeable kick.
Preparation tips for Cucumber and Kale Salad:
- Kale requires gentle massaging with something acidic like vinegar or lime/lemon juice to soften. Since I was already using lime for nuóc châm, I reserved a table spoon of juice for the kale.
- For the dressing, start by dissolving sugar in hot water. Use the recommended quantities but always taste and adjust for your individual preferences of sweet, salty and sour.
- If you have time, allow the sliced cucumbers to sit in 1/2 of the dressing for 5-10 minutes.
Serving suggestions:
I very much enjoy this salad as is for a light lunch or dinner. You can also easily serve it with white rice or as a side to fish, seafood or roasted chicken.
Looking for more Asian style greens? Why not try my Sesame Beans recipe!
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Asian Style Cucumber and Kale Salad
Ingredients
- 4 large cucumbers sliced
- 1 pack of kale leaves stems removed
- 1/2 tbsp lime juice
- a handful fresh coriander leaves
- 1 tsp each white and black sesame seeds roasted
For the dressing:
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 small garlic clove, minced optional
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the kale leaves. Add 1/2 tbsp lime juice and gently massage the leaves until they have softened.
- Prepare the dressing: add sugar to the hot water and stir to dissolve. Whisk in the rest of the dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust for salt, sweet or acid.
- Use 1/2 of the dressing to pour over the cucumbers. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes to take in the flavours of the dressing. (You can skip this step if you don't have the time)
- Add the cucumbers, kale and most of the coriander leaves to a serving bowl and give it a gentle mix.
- Drizzle with the rest of the dressing and top with sesame seeds and the remaining coriander leaves.
Notes
- You can swap fish sauce with soy sauce for a vegan version.
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I tried this salad last weekend and was surprised by how well the kale held up with the sesame dressing—it didn’t get soggy at all. The hint of chili in the Asian-style vinaigrette really brought out the cucumber’s freshness. Have you ever tried adding a bit of crushed peanuts for extra crunch?
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