Spicy Ginger Cucumber Salad

A delicious side to any meal, this Spicy Ginger Cucumber Salad introduces an Asian twist on a prairie classic with tang, spice, and a little bit of sweet.

This is a little different than your mom's regular creamy dill cucumber salad but trust me, it's almost as good. I trust your mom knows what she's doing. BUT, if you want to change things up a little and bring in some different flavours to accompany your dishes, this is a great recipe to start with.

Acidic vinegar, spicy chilli oil, a spoonful of honey, fresh ginger, sesame seeds, all with crunchy shallots and cucumbers. All a great combo for a refreshing side dish.

Spicy Ginger Cucumber Salad

Serves: 6 (as a side dish)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced

• 1/2 shallot, diced

• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar

• 1 1/2 tablespoons chilli oil or chilli paste (see directions)

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Directions

1. If using chilli oil, combined 2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes and 3 tablespoons of oil in a small jar and shake. Keep leftovers for topping other recipes.

2. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients, toss to combine the cucumbers, and serve.

3. Enjoy!

This is one of my favourite sides to add when I'm wanting to change it up. It adds a spicy veggie to your dish while staying flavourful but not stealing the show from your main dish.