Small Bowl of Cucumber Seaweed Salad
(click to enlarge)

Cucumber Seaweed Salad


Japan   -   Kyuri No Sunomono
Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
***
hrs
Yes		 This refreshing Sunomono is very popular in Japan. I have cut the amount of sugar called for in most authentic recipes by 1/3, as I like it less sweet than they do in Japan. See also Comments:

14
1/2
1/2
-----
3
2
1/4
1/3
-----
1
oz
t
oz
---
T
t
t
t
---
t
Cucumbers (1)
Salt
Wakame, dry (2)
-- Dressing
Rice Vinegar
Sugar
Soy Sauce
Salt
-- Garnish
Sesame Seeds, toasted (3)  
Make   -   (40 min - 10 min work)
  1. Slice CUCUMBERS very thin, about 1/16 inch. This is best done on a mandolin or similar slicer. Put them in a bowl with 1/2 t Salt and tumble so they are evenly coated. Let them sweat for at least 1/2 hour, tumbling a couple of times, then rinse and drain well. Wring out excess water.
  2. Break up WAKAME into small pieces (they will get a lot larger). Soak in cool water about 20 minutes, then drain well and squeeze out excess moisture. The 1/2 ounce will have become about 4-3/4 ounces.
  3. Mix all Dressing items together in a small jar.
  4. Mix Cucumbers and Wakame. this is best done by hand so you can feel and pull apart any lumps, and tear any oversize pieces of seaweed.
  5. Shake up the Dressing vigorously and mix into the salad.
  6. Serve chilled, garnished with Sesame Seeds.
NOTES:

  1. Cucumbers:

      Use narrow unwaxed cucumbers that need not be peeled or seeded (Persian, European, Japanese, Korean, etc.).

  2. Wakame:

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

  3. 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

  4. Comments:

      The Japanese usually combine seaweed with a land vegetable, most popularly cucumber. The ratio of seaweed to cucumber varies somewhat. I have seen recipes with twice the seaweed I call for, as well as half my amount. American sushi bars serve a seaweed only salad dressed with sesame oil. That salad is unknown in Japan. Most sushi bars buy that salad in tubs from Costco, and sell it at a "sushi bar appropriate" price. Neither the Japanese nor the Koreans use sesame oil in their seaweed salads. For a salad similar to, but healthier than, the Costco salad, see our Seaweed Salad.
  5. 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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