Spicy Cucumber Noodle Bowl (Printable Version)

Vibrant spiralized cucumbers with a zesty chili dressing, crunchy veggies, and aromatic toppings for a refreshing meal.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, spiralized or julienned
02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned (optional)
03 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sauce

05 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
06 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
07 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
08 - 1 tablespoon chili crisp or chili oil
09 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
10 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
11 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Toppings (optional)

13 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts or cashews, chopped
14 - Extra chili crisp
15 - Lime wedges

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Spiralize cucumbers and gently pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a large bowl, mix spiralized cucumber, julienned carrot, sliced scallions, and chopped cilantro.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili crisp, maple syrup, minced garlic, grated ginger, and toasted sesame seeds until well blended.
04 - Pour the sauce over the vegetable mixture and toss gently to distribute evenly.
05 - Divide mixture into serving bowls; garnish with chopped nuts, additional chili crisp, and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately for optimal crunch.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes with zero cooking, perfect when your kitchen is too hot to turn on the stove.
  • The sauce has enough depth that you forget you're eating mostly vegetables—bold flavors make all the difference.
  • It's naturally light but still feels like a proper meal, not an apology for lunch.
02 -
  • Pat your spiralized cucumbers completely dry or they'll release water and turn the whole bowl soggy within minutes—I learned this the frustrating way.
  • Make the sauce first and taste it alone so you know what you're working with before the vegetables dilute your judgment.
03 -
  • Assemble everything except the sauce ahead of time, then dress it right before eating—this keeps the crunch intact and lets people adjust spice to their preference.
  • Invest in a decent spiralizer or ask the produce section at your market to do it for you; it saves your forearms and changes how often you actually make this.
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