Paleo Cucumber Sesame Salad is so light and refreshing. It’s perfect for a dinner side dish as the days start to get warmer!
Before I share this brand new recipe, check out my clip from San Diego’s Fox 5 News morning show! I was invited on the air to show five of the recipes from my Performance Paleo Cookbook.
Erica, the anchor, and I talked about foods that are great for pre- and post-workout in addition to other delicious ways to round out your three square meals a day.
Check out the video below to watch my segment!
I’ve been really inspired to create new recipes lately (maybe there’s a new project in the works?!) and I tossed together this quick Paleo Cucumber Sesame Salad with things I already had in my fridge.
The cucumbers and mint are light and cool while the red jalapeño adds a bit of spice.
If you like it mild, scrape out the seeds and inner white membrane before finely dicing it.
This salad is best eaten fresh because the cucumbers will give up moisture as they sit in the dressing and get watery. You could always make the noodles ahead of time, then add the dressing right before you’re ready to eat. And if you top this with grilled chicken – or maybe my Pan-Fried Lemon Chicken, this Paleo Cucumber Sesame Salad will make a complete meal.
How to Make Cucumber Noodles
Making cucumber noodles is pretty simple, and there are two tools you may want to use.
The first is a julienne peeler. (See the one I recommend.) It looks like a regular veggie peeler, but it’s got little teeth. When you run it across the surface of the cucumber, the julienne peeler cuts it into little strips. They’re usually quite inexpensive, around $10. You’ll just want to make sure you stop making the noodles when you hit the seeds on the inside of the cucumber.
The other option for making cucumber noodles – coodles?! – is to use a Spiralizer. That’s a handy device that includes different blades and uses circular motion to create long strands. (See the Spiralizer I have.)
I’m not gonna lie: I held out for years and years on getting a Spiralizer. It takes up more space in our small kitchen than a peeler. But, I have come to like the Spiralizer. It’s totally a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have…so do what makes sense for your budget and space.
Paleo Cucumber Sesame Salad (Paleo, Gluten-Free)
Get this light and fresh Paleo Cucumber Sesame Salad recipe! It's perfect for warmer weather and comes together with just a few simple ingredients. It's gluten-free and whole30 friendly!
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini medium, peeled and julienned or spiralized
- 3 cucumbers large, peeled and julienned or spiralized
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1-1/2 tbsp rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp dark sesame oil
- 5 mint leaves thinly sliced into ribbons*
- 1/2 red jalapeño pepper seeded and finely chopped**
Instructions
- Combine the zucchini and cucumber noodles into a medium bowl.
- In a measuring cup or small bowl, combine the garlic, vinegar, ginger, and sea salt. Whisk in the sesame oil. Pour the dressing onto the noodles.
- Garnish with the mint and jalapeño pepper.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
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6 Responses
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this recipe. It’s very light and fresh tasting, great for hot summer evenings. Thank you for sharing!
Mandy, I’m excited to hear that you enjoyed it!
Such a delicious dish!! I used cilantro (it’s what I had) and sesame seeds to garnish! Can’t wait to try it with mint!!
I’m so glad you liked it!
I have not tried this, but it sounds delicious. I’m impressed by the vitamin C content too, although I don’t know where its coming from.
zucchini is rich in vitamin c