Small Bowl of Cucumber Noodle Salad
(click to enlarge)

Cucumber Noodle Salad


Japan   -   Sunomono

Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
15 oz
**
hrs
Yes
A refreshing Sunomono salad from Japan, easy to make and brings true Japanese flavors and textures. Can be made ahead as a party salad.

11
3/4
1-1/2
1/2
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1/4
1/4
2
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1
1/2

oz
t
oz
oz
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c
c
T
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t
T

Cucumbers (1)
Salt
Noodles Beanstarch (2)
Wakame, dry (3)
-- Dressing
Rice Vinegar
Mirin (4)
Soy Sauce, light
-- Garnish
Sesame Seeds, toasted (5)  
Ginger grated

Make   -   (40 min - 10 min work)
  1. Slice CUCUMBERS about 1/8 inch thick. Place in a small bowl with 3/4 t Sea Salt. Massage them so they are completely covered with the salt. Let them sweat for about 20 minutes, tumbling a couple of times. Drain do not rinse. Wring out excess water.
  2. Pour Boiling Water over Beanstarch Noodles and let sit until noodles are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well, Place the pile on you cutting board and make a few cuts through the pile to cut to about 3 inches long.
  3. Soak WAKAME in cool water for about 20 minutes, then drain well and squeeze out excess moisture.
  4. Grate GINGER for Garnish.
  5. Mix all Dressing items together in a small jar.
  6. Pour 1/4 cup of the Dressing over the Cucumbers. Let sit for 2 minutes, then squeeze out excess Dressing and discard it. Place Cucumbers into your mixing bowl.
  7. Tear Wakame into smallish pieces. Mix with Cucumbers, and Noodles.
  8. Pour remaining Dressing into the salad and tumble until all is well wetted. Chill. It will keep a day or so refrigerated in a sealed container.
  9. Serve chilled with plenty of Dressing and garnished with Sesame Seeds and grated Ginger.
NOTES:
  1. Cucumbers:

      If at all possible, use small cucumbers that don't need to be skinned or seeded, such as Persian, Japanese or European. If you have only the standard waxed green blimps, peel them and seed them, then measure out the given weight.
  2. Beanstarch Noodles

      [Glass Noodles]   These are available anywhere that has an Asian section. They are usually packed as bundles of 1.8 to 2 ounce skeins. Do not confuse with Rice Noodles which look much the same dry, but behave completely differently.
  3. Wakame:

      This is a popular seaweed found dried in just about any Asian market. For details see our Wakame page.
  4. Mirin

      This is a very sweet brew of Sake. Real Mirin is hard to find in North America, but do not accept "Mirin Style" products. Without the real thing, see our recipe Mirin - Non Traditional which is closer than most Mirin Style products.
  5. Sesame Seeds:

      If you don't have toasted sesame seeds on hand, it takes only a few minutes to dry pan roast white sesame seeds to a light golden color. See our recipe Toasted Sesame Seeds
  6. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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