Create this cold cucumber and carrot salad on a hot summer day, as no cooking is required to create the vegetarian side dish. Asian-style vegetable salad with ginger teriyaki dressing is a terrific item to serve at picnics, bar-be-ques and other summertime celebrations.
Asian-style vegetable salad can be served along with other Asian-style dishes such as Thai-Style Meatballs with Spicy Peanut Sauce. For a light lunch, serve the Asian-style vegetable salad along with a basket of rolls and an ice cold drink, such as a minty, iced tea. A smaller portion of the salad can be served as a first course at dinner.
Ingredients for Asian-Style Vegetable Salad
- 1 large, seedless cucumber - skin left on, sliced thin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups shredded carrot
- 1/4 cup sliced green onion tops
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1/3 cup ginger teriyaki dressing - recipe follows
Directions for Asian-Style Vegetable Salad
- Add the sliced cucumbers to a large mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the salt over the cucumbers, and mix to evenly coat all the cucumbers with the salt.
- Set aside the bowl of cucumbers for 30 minutes.
- Place the salted cucumbers into a colander and rinse with cool water.
- Drain all the water off the cucumbers and pat dry with a clean cloth.
- Add the prepared cucumbers to a large bowl.
- Stir in the carrots and green onion.
- Toss the salad with 1/3 cup of the ginger teriyaki dressing.
- Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the top of the salad.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Ingredients for the Ginger Teriyaki Dressing
- 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
- 1 clove garlic - minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
Directions for the Ginger Teriyaki Dressing
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk well, until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved.
- This recipe makes approximately 1 cup of dressing.
- Use 1/3 cup of the dressing to dress the Asian-style vegetable salad.
- Leftover dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Recipe Tips and Suggestions
1. The bottom, whiter portion of green onion has a more pronounced onion flavor than the green tops.The green top portion, which has a milder onion, or even chive-like flavor, can be used as a garnish on top of salads. Use the milder, top portion of the green onion in this recipe.
2. A mandoline is a useful kitchen gadget to have on hand to quickly cut a variety of vegetables into thin slices. Mandoline's can be purchased from kitchen supply stores, and the kitchen section of larger department stores.
Lynn Smythe - ABOUT THE WRITER Born and raised in Rochester, New York, freelance writer Lynn Smythe obtained her bachelor's degree in Geology from ...
