Thai Chicken Cucumber Salad
I duck into one of the covered alley ways of the shuk trying to get a small reprieve from the hot desert sun. I walk slowly up and down the narrow walkways, checking out what new items the vendors may have to sell. It’s crowded on this Friday morning with the before-shabbos crowd of people hurrying to get what they need for the weekend ahead. Strawberry season is coming to an end and the last piles of them can still be seen for only 5 shekels a kilo. Fresh garlic is still being pushed on costumers even though the last of the season tend to be small and sad looking. Stone fruit catches my eye, the season is beginning and peaches and plums are not yet ready to be had. ‘A few more weeks’ I think to myself as I put down a hard-as-rock tiny peach. It’s been awhile since I visited our small Be’er Sheva shuk and I sigh at the thought that the trip here in this heat just wasn’t worth it.
I find my way to the largest stand where I buy most of my produce from. I fill up bags of lemons and peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. Then I see Katherine holding something that looks like a cross between a cucumber and a zucchini. “Armenian cucumbers” she says to me. “Feel them, they have a sort of hairy texture”. Intrigued and excited at the new find, I fill up a bag to take home. I notice bunches of spring onions as I turn around. I smile as I gather a bunch of them through the crowd. What started as a disappointing shuk trip turned out to be a wonderful day with two great finds.
I eagerly slice into one of the Armenian cucumbers as soon as I return home. They are crisp with a mild flavor similar to a cucumber and sweet with a hint of citrus. The skin is thin and edible making it an ideal fresh cut cucumber, perfect for salads. After looking around online I found out that Armenian cucumbers are part of the melon family along with muskmelon and honeydew melon. The delicate taste seems to pair well with many ingredients and so I used them along with my spring onion find as a base for this Thai inspired salad.
Light and satisfying, this salad combines sweet and sour flavors with a kick of heat from the chili pepper. I added chicken to mine to make the salad a substantial main course but feel free to leave it out for a vegetarian alternative or side dish. Perfect for spring BBQ’s, picnics or light lunches, this salad will be sure to impress.
***If Armenian cucumbers cannot be found, you can substitute English cucumbers for a very similar taste!***
Ingredients:
For Salad:
2 large Armenian cucumbers, sliced into rounds and halved
2 carrots, sliced into thin ribbons
1 spring onion, thinly sliced
2 pre cooked chicken breasts, shredded
For Dressing:
1 1/2 cups rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 large chili peper, minced
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl combine Armenian cucumbers, carrots, spring onions and shredded chicken, set aside.
In a saucepan over medium heat combine rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil and chili peper, stirring until sugar has disolved.
Remove sauce pan from heat and stir in sesame seeds, cool completely.
Once dressing has cooled pour over salad, toss and serve.
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nice n refreshing salad…..perfect for the hot summer………..i do a very similar vegetarian version…its on my blog….do visit:)
Thanks Simran! It is super perfect for the warm weather! Will have to check out your vegetarian version of it!!!
Just gorgeous!! This sounds so delicious, seriously perfect for this hot weather. The new tablecloth looks great!
Great find with the Armenian cucumbers. I love them!!! I do love the new table cloth however I’m not sure white was the best idea for our sandy b7 summers!
Great recipe. Would you be happy to put up a link to it in my Food on Friday – Asian Food Series.
Thanks Carole! All linked up!
Exactly what I need to get ready for the trip to the beach…Light salads that won’t disappoint my palate. Love the spring colors! Thanks for sharing.
This is perfect to bring to the beach! Light, easy and delicious!
What a gorgeous summer salad – love the flavours though I would have to omit the chicken
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks!! My original plan was to make this without chicken so it will be just as wonderful if you omitted it!
Oh, even I love walking down the alleys (in Hong Kong) and exploring foods or ingredients which are quite new to me. Armenian cucumbers sound interesting: when you said hairy, I was trying to guess whether I’ve seen this in local shops here. It would have been great if you could have added a picture. The recipe sounds fantastic, Beth: something I’d love to try. I’ll try this with regular cucumbers. I trust your recipes and let me tell you that your blog is quite a treasure trove!!
China has some amazing foods to discover! I loved wandering the markets when I was there. I realized after I chopped up all the cucumbers that I should have taken a photo of them to share!! I will buy more and add a photo to the post. I think regular cucumbers will be great too, though I think you may be able to find Armenian cucumbers in China. I looked online and they also go by the name ‘snake melon’!!
I need to give a try to this salad because I can get very satisfied with a bowl of it, what more thats what I eat for my dinner. Plenty of veges and yes, cucumbers are my fav and whenever I have no time to stir fry veges, slices of cucumbers are enough.
Btw, I am not sure whats armenian cucumbers and I suppose zucchini will be great too.
I love cucumbers too, they are always so satisfying. You can use regular cucumbers in this or if you can find English cucumbers will work too for a similar taste. I didn’t even think if subbing in zucchini but I think the delicate taste may work great as well. Let me know if you try that!!
Oh my gosh, this is one beautiful salad. I love how serene it looks. Like it’s just tempting you to come over quietly and start to nibble. It is gorgeous.
Thanks Kim! The colors really are beautiful and you are so right about it calling you to it. The left overs were nibbled on each time the fridge door was opened!
This just looks so light and refreshing! Great job!!
Thanks Bobbi, it is!! And super simple to throw together which makes it even more appealing!!
I love the cucumbers in this, I think I could drink several glasses of cucumber juice! This looks so tasty and the sesame dressing is the perfect topper!
Thanks Tina! I love cucumbers in water though I never tried Just cucumber juice. I will definitely have to add that to my ‘to try’ list!
Thanks for putting up the link in Food on Friday. I have put the name of the recipe in for you.
Great!! thanks!
what a great looking salad!
Thank you! Don’t you just live eating pretty things?!
What a gorgeous looking salad Beth! Love the thai flavoring you added.
Thank you!
This looks delicious, I love cucumber salads and this looks like a great variation.
Thanks Rachel! You should try it if you’re a fan of cucumber salads. You’ll love it!
i am on a Thai kick lately and i loveee your dish! What a great recipe Beth and so delicious looking!
I hope that you are doing well..enjoy your day!!!!
This would be a great recipe to add to your list if you are on a Thai kick! Its so simple and delicious!!
Perfect salad for summer and it goes well with any Asian dishes. I love how we can put everything together in a short time. Lovely salad Beth!
Thanks Nami! Things that can be thrown together easily like this salad are the best! Especially during the summer when you really want to be outside and not in the kitchen!
Tasty and wonderful photos. Love it!
Thanks!!!
What a stunning summer salad, Beth! This looks perfect for a picnic dinner. I’m intrigued by Armenian cucumbers…we have a terrific Middle Eastern shop and I’m going to check their produce to see if they have some.
I hope that you can find them at the Middle Eastern store by you! I just bought a big bag of some at the market and cannot wait to make this again and try something new!