on May 29, 2024 I ate this Spicy Chicken Cucumber Salad at a restaurant recently and instantly knew I had to recreate it at home! It’s so simple and refreshing, which is all that we seem to be craving these days in the heat. Simple ingredients like poached chicken, cucumber, lots of fresh herbs and roasted peanuts form the base of this salad. We finish it with a quick sweet and spicy sauce to tie everything together before serving right away. Make this with paneer or tofu to keep this vegetarian. However you serve it, this cucumber salad has got to make its way to your table this summer!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Spicy Chicken Cucumber Salad
For Poached Chicken Chicken – I have used boneless breasts but any cut will work. Save time by using pre cooked or store bought chicken and shredding it at home Water – the poaching liquid we are using in this recipe Aromatics – i have used bayleaf, ginger, star anise, peppercorn, and coriander seeds for this recipe Salt – for flavor and seasoning For Salad Cucumbers – a star ingredient in this recipe, added for freshness and crunch Peanuts – coarsely crushed to add a depth of flavor and texture Can be subbed with roasted sunflower seeds Fresh Herbs – for freshness. I have used coriander and mint leaves. You can even add basil, lime leaves, spring onions here For Spicy Salad Dressing Chilli Oil Chilli Flakes – for spice + a little crunch once mixed with the oil Crushed Schezwan Pepper Corns – for a little numbing spice + crunch that pairs so well with the fresh cucumbers and herbs, you can skip if you don’t have this on hand Korean Chilli Powder (Gochugaru) – for both colour and spice. I love the bright red this adds! Garlic – for that pungent zing Salt – to season Cooking Oil – to heat and pour over the spices, making our sizzling chilli oil. Any neutral flavoured oil like canola oil, vegetable oil or sunflower oil will work. Because this has peanuts, I like using groundnut oil Dressing Peanut Butter – adds a nutty creaminess to the dressing Light Soy Sauce – adds umami, the savouriness works well with all the sweet and spicy flavours Honey – for a little sweetness, you could sub with sugar Vinegar – I add a little white synthetic vinegar for some zinginess that works really well here Spring Onions – for crunch and freshness. You can add both the green and white parts. Toasted Sesame Seeds – add a nutty crunch. You can add these to both the dressing and as a topping to the cucumber chicken salad when serving
Richa’s Top Tricks to make the best Spicy Chicken Cucumber Salad
Summers call for this Spicy Chicken Cucumber Salad! Not only is it bright and refreshing, but it also looks beautiful on the table because of how we plate it! If you’re calling friends over for a summertime lunch, you know what to make! If you make this, do send me your recreations over on my IG!
Watch How To Make Spicy Chicken Cucumber Salad
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