Thai-Style Peanut Cucumber Salad (Printable)

Crunchy cucumbers tossed in a creamy, tangy peanut dressing with vibrant Thai-inspired flavors.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
03 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)

→ Creamy Peanut Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
13 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
14 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
15 - 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water, as needed
16 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or sriracha (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, mix the sliced cucumbers, julienned carrot, red onion, and cilantro.
02 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger in a medium bowl. Gradually add warm water until the dressing reaches a smooth, pourable consistency. Incorporate red pepper flakes or sriracha if desired.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle chopped peanuts and sesame seeds on top. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 30 minutes to enhance crispness and chill.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes with zero cooking, so it's perfect for hot days when turning on the stove feels impossible.
  • The peanut dressing is addictively creamy and balanced—not one flavor overpowers the others, which is the hardest thing to nail in a dressing.
  • It's genuinely satisfying as a full lunch or elegant enough to serve alongside something more substantial without feeling like an afterthought.
02 -
  • Don't make the dressing too far ahead and toss with the vegetables early—the salt will start breaking down the cucumbers, turning them mushy instead of crisp. Mix the dressing first, but add it to the vegetables just before serving.
  • The dressing thickens as it sits because peanut butter absorbs liquid; keep a little extra warm water nearby to loosen it up if it becomes too thick. This happens quickly in warm weather, so it's good to know going in.
03 -
  • Keep the peanut butter at room temperature before whisking—cold peanut butter is stubborn and resists blending smoothly into the dressing.
  • Taste the dressing before it meets the vegetables; adjusting seasoning once everything is mixed is harder and requires tossing the whole salad multiple times.
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