Sunomono Recipe (Japanese Cucumber Salad)

With this Sunomono Recipe, you can make a favorite Japanese restaurant side dish at home and start your meal with a cool, crisp salad.

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Pickled vegetables are popular in Japanese cuisine, and cucumbers, as in this sunomono recipe, are often featured in bento boxes at restaurants. Their light, vinegary (yet subtly sweet) flavor brings a refreshing and delightful crunch to any meal.

You might also find a similar salad at Korean barbecue restaurants, where adding red pepper flakes may bring some heat. Cucumber salads are popular in many cultures, and you can easily find recipes online for Thai, German, Hungarian, Mexican, and Indian versions, among others.

I love cucumbers, but just as some people have an issue with cilantro, others, including me, have problems with cucumbers. What’s the problem? Burping! It turns out that cucumber seeds and skin are the culprits due to a bitter substance called cucurbitacin. That might be why I can eat sushi rolls with cucumber and tzatziki sauce. These items are usually made without the skin and seeds of the cucumber. Now I know – and so do you!

Is Japanese Cucumber Salad Healthy?

Sunomono salad is a healthy addition to any meal. Cucumbers have a high water content, making them extremely low in calories while still helping to keep you hydrated, especially in the hot summer months. One medium cucumber contains about 30 calories and no fat. With only 6 grams of carbohydrates, this vegetable is perfect for a low-carb diet, too.

Are you curious about vitamins and minerals? You’ll be happy to learn that one medium cucumber provides a whopping 57% of your recommended daily value (DV) of vitamin K. How’s that for a nutrient punch? Cucumbers also provide 10% DV of vitamin C, 9% DV each of magnesium and manganese, and 12% DV of potassium. These are some of the many reasons to add cucumbers to your regular diet.

The Benefits of Using Rice Vinegar…

With so many types of vinegar on the market, it’s sometimes hard to know which to use. Ultimately, it all comes down to the recipe you are making. In this case, rice vinegar, also called rice wine vinegar, is the best and most authentic choice. Rice vinegar dates back over 4,000 years in China, where it was first used as a medicine. It makes sense when you learn why rice vinegar is good for you and why you should use it in this sunomono recipe.

Rice vinegar contains acetic acid, which helps improve digestion and can support weight loss efforts. Vinegar can also help lower blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity. It has powerful antioxidants to help boost immunity and may lower blood pressure as well.

INGREDIENTS

2 Japanese cucumbers
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Slice

Prepare cucumbers with uniform thin slices.

Mix

Combine vinegar, sugar, and salt; dissolve.

Marinate

Toss cucumbers in dressing, let sit, then serve.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

I remember my mother making a vinegary cucumber salad when I was young. It would stay in the refrigerator for what seemed like forever. She never even ate it until after a few days, as she wanted the cucumbers to soften. Sunomono is a crisper salad, so it is best eaten fresh or within 3 – 4 days. Store it in a jar or other airtight container.

Can I Use Regular Cucumbers Instead of Japanese Ones?

Japanese cucumbers are best in this recipe, as they have thinner skin and fewer seeds. However, if you cannot find them at your local store, look for English or Persian cucumbers. If those are unavailable, and you only have regular large cucumbers, find the smallest, skinniest ones you can see.

I’m On A Paleo Diet. Is There a Paleo Version?

I try to adhere to a paleo diet as much as possible, so I always look for ways to alter recipes. This one is easy, as you can swap the rice vinegar for coconut vinegar and the sugar for coconut sugar.

Serving Suggestions

I love cooking Asian-style meals at home, so this sunomono salad is a perfect addition to Seared Ahi Tuna Steak and Sesame Soba Noodles. Many of the ingredients are the same, so preparing this meal is simple. These Almond Flour Sugar Cookies are a delicious take on a traditional favorite and make the perfect dessert for this meal.