Description
This Sushi Cucumber Salad is a quick, nutritious, and flavorful dish perfect for a light meal or side. Featuring crisp English cucumbers and sharp onions mixed with a creamy dressing of whipped cream cheese, mayonnaise, and umami-rich soy sauce, it incorporates your choice of protein like imitation crab, smoked salmon, canned tuna, or shrimp. Garnished with furikake or everything bagel seasoning and an optional spicy mayo drizzle, this salad offers a refreshing crunch and a delightful mix of flavors inspired by sushi ingredients, ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 2 medium English Cucumbers (preferably seedless for best crunch)
- 1 small Red or White Onion (use sweet onions for milder flavor)
Dressing
- 4 oz Whipped Cream Cheese (or use blended regular cream cheese)
- 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce (tamari for gluten-free option)
- 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar (apple cider vinegar as substitute)
- 1 tbsp Sesame Oil (toasted sesame oil adds extra flavor)
Protein
- 1 cup Imitation Crab or Smoked Salmon or Canned Tuna or Shrimp (chickpeas or tofu for plant-based option)
Toppings & Garnishes
- 1 tbsp Furikake or Everything Bagel Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Spicy Mayo or Sriracha (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Slice Vegetables: Thinly slice the English cucumbers and red or white onions using a sharp knife or mandoline. Keep the cucumbers crisp to ensure a refreshing crunch in the salad.
- Prepare Dressing: In a mixing bowl, combine the whipped cream cheese, mayonnaise, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Mix thoroughly until the dressing is creamy, smooth, and well blended.
- Add Protein: Fold your choice of protein (imitation crab, smoked salmon, canned tuna, or shrimp) into the dressing, ensuring it is evenly coated for balanced flavor.
- Combine Salad: Gently add the sliced cucumbers and onions to the bowl with the dressing and protein. Carefully fold everything together to evenly distribute the dressing without bruising the vegetables.
- Serve and Garnish: Transfer the salad into a serving dish. Sprinkle with furikake or everything bagel seasoning, and optionally drizzle with spicy mayo or sriracha for an added kick. Serve immediately or refrigerate and consume within 24 hours to maintain optimum flavor and texture.
Notes
- For extra crunch, use seedless English cucumbers.
- You can substitute tamari for soy sauce to make the recipe gluten-free.
- Opt for sweet onions if a milder flavor is preferred.
- Plant-based alternatives like chickpeas or tofu can replace seafood for a vegetarian version.
- Consume the salad within 24 hours of preparation for best freshness.
- Adjust the amount of spicy mayo or sriracha according to your heat tolerance.
