Shake Shake Garlic Cucumbers (Printable View)

Bold garlic cucumbers with soy, sesame oil, and chili. Crunchy, refreshing, and ready in minutes. Vegan and dairy-free.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
02 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

→ Dressing

03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
05 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
06 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
07 - 1 teaspoon sugar
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the sliced cucumbers and minced garlic into a large, sealable jar or container.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili flakes, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves.
03 - Pour the dressing over the cucumbers in the jar. Seal the jar tightly and shake vigorously for 30–60 seconds, ensuring the cucumbers are well coated.
04 - Let stand for 5–10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions if using, and serve immediately. For extra chill, refrigerate before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The satisfying ritual of shaking the jar creates the perfect harmony of flavors while requiring practically zero cooking skills.
  • These cucumbers transform from plain vegetable to addictive side dish in under 10 minutes, making them perfect for those nights when you need something fresh but have zero patience.
02 -
  • Shaking really does matter more than stirring here, as the tumbling action helps bruise the cucumber slightly, allowing it to absorb flavor faster than if you just tossed it in a bowl.
  • The flavor gets stronger the longer it sits, but the crunch diminishes, so find your perfect sweet spot between 5 minutes and 2 hours in the fridge.
03 -
  • Smash the cucumber slices lightly with the flat side of your knife before adding them to the jar, creating tiny crevices that capture more of the delicious dressing.
  • For gatherings, prepare the dressing and cucumbers separately, combining and shaking them just 15 minutes before serving to hit that perfect balance of flavor absorption while maintaining maximum crunch.
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