Cucumber Spirals
4 servings
20 minutes
Cucumber spirals are an exquisite appetizer of Chinese cuisine that combines the simplicity of ingredients with a refined cutting technique. The secret of the dish lies in the art of slicing: thanks to a special technique, cucumbers take on an elegant spiral shape, allowing the sauce to penetrate inside, enriching the fresh taste with spiciness and sweet-sour notes. Crunchy vegetables in a marinade of rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil create a harmonious balance of spiciness and delicate texture. This dish is perfect as a standalone appetizer or as a refreshing complement to main courses. Cucumber spirals are not just a treat but a true gastronomic art that impresses with its simplicity of execution and depth of flavor.
1
Prepare all the ingredients.
2
Place the cucumber on the cutting board and lay the chopsticks along it.
- Cucumbers: 400 g
3
Thinly slice the cucumber into sticks.
- Cucumbers: 400 g
4
Turn the cucumber cut side down, also between the sticks. Cut it while holding the knife slightly diagonally.
- Cucumbers: 400 g
5
Cut all the cucumbers in the same way and place them in a deep dish for serving.
- Cucumbers: 400 g
6
Cut the pepper into small cubes. If you want it spicier, you can leave the seeds in.
- Chili pepper: 1 piece
7
In a bowl, mix rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili, sugar, and sesame oil until the sugar dissolves.
- Rice vinegar: 1 tablespoon
- Soy sauce: 3 tablespoons
- Sugar: 0.5 tablespoon
- Sesame oil: 2 tablespoons
8
Press garlic into the sauce. Taste and add salt if needed.
- Garlic: 3 cloves
- Salt: to taste
9
Pour the cucumbers with the prepared sauce.
- Cucumbers: 400 g
10
Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.