Cool, crisp, and packed with garlicky goodness, this Quick & Easy Garlicky Chinese Cucumber Salad is the perfect balance of refreshing, savory, and addictive. A staple in Chinese cuisine, this salad is all about texture and bold flavors—crunchy chunks of cucumbers, aromatic garlic, a touch of vinegar for tang, and a drizzle of sesame oil for depth. It’s incredibly simple to prepare in just minutes, making it a fantastic side dish for any meal. Whether served as a light appetizer or a cooling contrast to spicy dishes, this garlicky cucumber salad is a must-try for effortless, flavor-packed eating!
For the best Chinese cucumber salad, go for firm, thin-skinned cucumbers like Persian, Japanese, or Lebanese—they’re super crisp, less watery, and have fewer seeds. If you’ve only got a thick-skinned one, no worries! Just roughly peel off the skin like I did here, and you’re good to go.
Cut them into large chunks otherwise they will water too quickly and loose its natural crunch after seasoning.
This quick and easy Chinese cucumber salad is meant for immediate enjoyment, keeping its crisp texture and fresh flavors intact. To prevent sogginess, season right before serving—this way, the cucumbers stay crunchy while still soaking up all that garlicky, tangy goodness. Since it comes together in just minutes, there’s no waiting around.
seasonings for about 600-800g of cucumber (about 2 medium sized cucumbers):
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp chicken bouillon powder (or sub with pinch MSG) – optional
Pinch ground white pepper
1 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp sesame oil
4 cloves grated garlic
For the boldest garlic flavor, use a garlic crusher or microplane grater—this helps release its natural oils and ensures it blends smoothly into the dressing. Once seasoned, toss everything well to coat the cucumbers in all that savory, tangy goodness. Serve immediately to enjoy the perfect balance of crunch and freshness!
If you like cucumber salads, check out my other chilli oil coated, spicy and addictive version here:
Chinese Cucumber Salad – Sam Low Recipes
Quick and Easy Chinese Garlicky Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 600-800 grams Cucumber crunchy, thin skinned ideally
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon powder or sub with pinch MSG – optional
- pinch ground white pepper
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar not to be confused with rice wine or rice wine vinegar
- 2 tsp sesame oil roasted
- 4 cloves garlic grated or using a micro plane grater
Instructions
- Wash and peel your cucumber
- cut into big chunks
- add seasoning and mix well
- serve immediately