This dish would be a great vegetarian option at a summer picnic or barbecue–feel free to make it earlier in the day and let it chill out a bit in your fridge.
Crunchy Cucumber Salad with Sesame and Peanut Dressing
This dish would be a great vegetarian option at a summer picnic or barbecue–feel free to make it earlier in the day and let it chill out a bit in your fridge.
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon soybean chili paste (I used Lan Chi) or more to taste
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- pinch sugar
- juice of one quarter of a lime
for the dressing:
- 1 lb green beans, ends removed
- 2 sweet peppers (I used one yellow and one red)
- 3-4 burpless cucumbers
- 2 small carrots, peeled
- 2 scallions
- 1/4 lb shiitake mushrooms, stems removed
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce
- sesame seeds for garnish
for the salad
- Mash garlic and ginger in a mini food processor or mortar and pestle until smooth. Add remaining dressing ingredients and mix until smooth, tasting for seasoning and heat. Set aside.
- Cut green beans in half and place in a large skillet with water to cover. Bring water to a boil and cook until beans are just tender and bright green. Drain and shock with cold water to retain color. Place in a large serving bowl.
- Meanwhile, cut peppers into thin strands. Add to sserving bowl. Remove ends from cucumbers and cut in half, then slice into thin pieces to match shape of peppers. Add to salad bowl. Cut carrots into matchsticks and slice scallions and add both to salad bowl.
- Rinse mushrooms and remove dirt, then slice in narrow slices. Heat vegetable oil over medium heat and add mushrooms, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Cook until mushrooms are cooked through and add hoisin sauce to coat. Add mushrooms to serving bowl and toss, then add dressing and toss to coat evenly. Serve and garnish each plate with sesame seeds.
