Saturday, March 06, 2010

Asian Cucumber Mint Salad

This is a salad of contrast and balance. The sweetness of the cucumbers is sharpened by the sourness of the spicy dressing, which in turn is cooled by the refreshing mint.

1 large cucumber, sliced as thinly as possible
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 carrot, grated
a handful of mint leaves
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of honey
1 teaspoon of soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon or sriracha or your favourite hot sauce

In a large salad bowl, toss together the cucumber, onion, carrot, mint, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, honey, soy sauce and hot sauce until well combined. Serve immediately or let it rest for a few hours. The texture will change as the acidic lemon juice and honey in the dressing draw moisture out of the cucumber. The salad will get a bit watery and soften. That's okay; it still tastes great. Just toss again before serving.

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