Shake Shake Garlic Cucumbers (Printable Version)

Crisp cucumbers tossed in a zesty garlic-sesame soy dressing. Ready in 10 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
02 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

→ Dressing

03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
05 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
06 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
07 - 1 teaspoon sugar
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Place the sliced cucumbers and minced garlic into a large, sealable jar or container.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili flakes, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves.
03 - Pour the dressing over the cucumbers in the jar. Seal the jar tightly and shake vigorously for 30–60 seconds, ensuring the cucumbers are well coated.
04 - Let stand for 5–10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions if using, and serve immediately. For extra chill, refrigerate before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The shaking method creates instant flavor penetration that marinating alone never achieves quite as dramatically or quickly
  • It comes together in literally ten minutes but tastes like something that required way more effort and planning than it actually did
02 -
  • Mason jars work infinitely better than Tupperware because you can really shake without worrying about leaks or the lid popping off
  • These are best eaten within a few hours because the cucumbers will eventually release too much water and lose their crisp texture
03 -
  • Use a wide mouth jar so you can easily get the cucumbers out without making a mess or breaking them
  • The shaking motion does something magical that stirring just cannot replicate so do not skip that step
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