Ani's Kitchen Stories

This fresh and appetising Cucumber and Carrot salad with Asian inspired dressing is a must try if you love munching salads. It’s flavourful, delicious and a perfect side dish which can be prepared in no time.

Cucumbers and carrots are the main star ingredient in the recipe. You can add your choice of veggies as well along with cucumber and carrot. The toasted sesame seeds adds the nutty texture and taste in the salad. Do not skip adding the toasted white sesame seeds. This nutty texture makes the whole difference in the salad.

Because it’s Asian inspired dressing, low sodium light soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil are the key ingredients for the dressing.

For the low sodium soy sauce, I’ve used Kikkoman soy sauce. You can use light soy sauce as well.

For the vinegar, I’ve used Apple Cider Vinegar. As I ran out of rice vinegar. Apple cider vinegar came in handy.

And a good quality Asian style light sesame oil brings out and elevates the whole nutty flavour in the salad. A little drizzle goes a long way.

Ingredients: (serves:2)

• 1 carrot cleaned and shredded 
• 2 English cucumber sliced into thin rounds
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp kikkomon soy sauce/ light soy sauce 
• 1 tsp honey 
• 1 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1/2 tsp fresh minced ginger 
• 1/2 tsp fresh minced garlic 
• Few sprigs of chopped coriander leaves 
• 3-4 spring/green onions, sliced
• 1-2 chopped Thai bird eye chilli 
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• Toasted white sesame seeds 
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Salad dressing:

• In a small bowl, combine the apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and honey. Whisk until the mixture is well combined.
• Stir in minced garlic, ginger, chilli and sesame oil. Set the dressing aside.

Prepare the Veggies:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, chopped coriander and sliced spring onions.

Combine and toss:

• Pour the prepared dressing over the carrot and cucumber mixture. Toss the salad until all the veggies are well coated with the dressing. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds on top on the salad. 
• Serve this flavourful salad cold or in room temperature with your favourite choice of protein.