Asian Cucumber Salad

Pickled Cucumbers are a classic appetizer loved for their crisp texture and sweet-and-sour flavor. Through pickling, cucumbers not only retain their original nutrients but also acquire a unique taste, making them an indispensable delicacy on summer tables.

👉🏻Ingredients list⚠️

• Cucumbers: 5, washed and cut into strips

• Salt: 2 tablespoons

• White sugar: 3 tablespoons

• White vinegar: 1 cup

• Water: 1 cup

• Garlic cloves: 5, sliced

• Dry chili peppers: 3, cut into sections (optional)

• Spices (such as star anise, Sichuan peppercorns): as needed

👉🏻✨DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the cucumber strips in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt, and mix well. Let them sit for 1 hour to draw out the moisture.

2. Drain the cucumber strips well after they have released their moisture and place them in a clean glass jar.

3. In a pot, bring the white sugar, white vinegar, water, and spices to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.

4. Pour the boiling pickling liquid into the glass jar with the cucumber strips, ensuring that the liquid completely covers the cucumbers.

5. Add the sliced garlic and chili pepper sections, adjusting the spiciness according to personal taste.

6. Cover the jar, shake it a few times to evenly distribute the pickling liquid.

7. Place the glass jar in the refrigerator and let it pickle for at least 24 hours before serving for the best taste.

👉🏻✨TIPS

• Make sure to drain the cucumber strips well after they have released their moisture, as this will affect the texture of the pickled cucumbers.

• The proportion of the pickling liquid can be adjusted according to personal taste. If you prefer a more sour or sweeter flavor, you can increase or decrease the amount of white vinegar or white sugar.

• The longer the pickling time, the stronger the flavor of the cucumbers, but be careful not to pickle them for too long, as this may make them too soft.

👉🏻✨BENEFITS

• Pickled Cucumbers are not only crisp and refreshing but also help with digestion and stimulate appetite. During hot summer days, a plate of pickled cucumbers paired with cold noodles or porridge is both appetizing and refreshing.

👉🏻✨NUTRITIONAL

• Cucumbers are rich in water, vitamin C, vitamin K, and various minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Although some nutrients are lost during pickling, pickled cucumbers still retain most of their nutritional components, such as dietary fiber and antioxidants. Eating pickled cucumbers in moderation helps supplement the body with necessary water and nutrients, promoting overall health.