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Japanese Cucumber Salad-Sunomono Salad Recipe

This simple Japanese Cucumber Salad-Sunomono Salad can be made in under thirty minutes and is both ridiculously easy and delicious! It will become your perfect and delicious side dish because it's so light and refreshing.
overhead shot of a bowl of sesame cucumber salad

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I’m obsessed with this Japanese Cucumber Salad-Sunomono Salad Recipe because it’s quick, simple, delicious, and pairs with just about anything! It’s made with five simple ingredients and is super easy to complete in fifteen minutes. What could be better?! Cucumbers and red onion are thinly sliced, coated with sesame oil and a splash of rice vinegar, and tossed with toasted black sesame seeds. This salad will make you think you’re dining at your local Japanese restaurant. 

Rice Vinegar, salt, sesame oil, black sesame seeds, sliced red onion and cucumbers laying decoratively on a pale blue painted board

Japanese Cucumber Salad Ingredients

What you’ll need to make this recipe:

Japanese Cucumbers: These cucumbers are long and skinny with a fantastic crunch. However, any cucumber will work for this salad. 

Red Onion: Thinly sliced onion adds the perfect sweetness with the vinegar.

Sesame Oil:  I always use toasted sesame for a deeper flavor.

Rice Vinegar: This adds such a soft amount of acid to pickle the cucumber and onion. 

Black Sesame Seeds: I like using black seeds for color, but white seeds would be great, too.

Kosher Salt: I only use kosher salt in all my recipes. It’s simply the best!

Find the full recipe with ingredients and directions below.

Recipe Directions

Use a Japanese mandolin or a sharp knife to slice the cucumbers into paper-thin rounds. Place your red onion on the cutting board and lob off the blossom end. Place the onion flat on the cutting board and cut directly through the root, creating two halves. 

Three images of cucumbers being sliced on a Japanese mandolin on a cutting board and three images of the top of a red onion being sliced off on a cutting board.

Peel off the skin of both red onion halves and discard. Place one half with the flat side on the board and cut it in half again, slicing directly through the root. Lob off the root end of one-quarter of the onion. Take the remaining onion, place it in an airtight container, and reserve it for another use. (Note: Keeping the onion in an airtight container helps prevent the smell from permeating the rest of your refrigerator.)

Six images of a red onion being sliced and skin removed on a wooden cutting board.

Place a quarter of the onion on the mandolin and slice it into paper-thin paper pieces. Again, if you do not have a mandolin, slice the onion as thin as possible with your knife. Place the sliced cucumber and onion in a large glass or stainless-steel mixing bowl. Add the measured sesame oil, rice vinegar, black sesame seeds, and salt. 

One image of an onion being sliced on a Japanese mandolin and five shots of all salad ingredients being added to a glass bowl on a wooden cutting board.
red onion, black sesame seeds, sliced cucumbers and salt in a glass bowl.

Use a large spoon to mix until well combined. Serve and enjoy. 

cucumber salad in a glass bowl.

Japanese Cucumber Salad FAQ

What is Japanese Cucumber Salad-Sunomono Salad?

This cold salad is what is called a “quick pickle. Food is submerged in a salted vinegar solution for immediate or fast consumption. Cucumbers and red onion are thinly sliced and tossed in this salad with sesame oil, rice vinegar, salt, and toasted black sesame seeds. The vinegar and salt act as the “pickling” agents, breaking down the cucumbers and onions to bring out their natural sweetness to create a crisp crunch.

Do you peel cucumbers for cucumber salad?

This recipe uses Japanese cucumbers with very thin skin, so I prefer not to peel them. The skin gives the salad more texture and color. If you use Persian Cucumbers, English cucumbers, Hot House cucumbers, regular cucumbers, or any cucumber, I would leave the skin on and make thin slices. 

How to slice a cucumber for this salad.

I like to use a Japanese mandolin to slice the cucumber and red onion super thin. I prefer this tool over a food processor because I get perfectly uniform slices. However, you can use a very sharp knife as well. If you invest in a mandolin, I also highly recommend using it for these other delicious and simple salads: Persimmon SaladCorn Salad, Brussel Sprouts Salad, and Farro Salad. You can pair these salads with your favorite grilled chicken or other protein, and they’ll be the star of your next dinner party or soiree! 

How does adding salt to cucumbers affect their taste?

Salting cucumbers acts as a “cooking agent,” breaking down the cucumber to extract water content. I like to slice my cucumbers first, add them to a small bowl with salt, let them sit for twenty minutes, and then squeeze out the water before adding them to the rest of my salad ingredients. Don’t forget to discard the excess water before adding it to the salad. I also use this same salting cucumber technique in this delicious Cucumber Tomato Salad. The salt helps to bring out the vegetables’ natural sweetness and flavor. 

What is the difference between a cucumber and a pickle?

A cucumber is a raw, untouched vegetable, while a pickle is a cucumber stored in a flavored brine solution of water, sugar, and vinegar to change its taste and texture. 

Variations

 Suggested Meal Pairings

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BEAUTY Sesame Cucumber Salad 1200

Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono) Recipe

This Asian-inspired Japanese cucumber salad is one of my absolute favorites because it's outrageously easy to make, has a beautiful texture, and pairs with any protein!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 12 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Course Salads, Vegan, Vegetable Sides
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 2 people
Calories 139 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  • Season to taste with salt.

Notes

Using a mandolin is the easiest and quickest way to make this salad.    
  • Using a mandolin to slice the cucumber thinly and red onion is the easiest and quickest way to get perfectly uniform, thinly sliced vegetables. 
  • I like to use a Japanese mandolin. It is one of my most prized and essential kitchen tools. I practically use it every day! 
  • You must be careful and methodical when using such a tool not to harm your fingers, as all mandolins are incredibly sharp. 
  • My advice is to work slowly and get comfortable with the tool. 
  • If you are uncomfortable using a mandolin, you can work with the same precision and care to achieve a similar result with a knife. 
 
Because you only use one-quarter of the red onion, it’s best to slice through the root to keep all the layers intact. 
  • It is instructed above to take the onion and lob off the blossom end. Then, place the onion on the flat side down and slice directly through the root. Place the one-half flat side down, and slice directly through the root again to make a quarter. You are using this one quarter for the salad and will slice off the root end of the quarter to slice it on the mandolin. 
  • However, the onion half and other quarter piece of onion still hold the root. Thus, keeping the root intact will hold all the layers and flavor together and help when cutting the onion for future use! 
 
Buy already toasted sesame seeds.
  • I always keep toasted sesame seeds (black and white) in my pantry!! It saves you time, hassle, and fear of burning them in your toaster oven. You can usually find them pre-toasted in most Asian markets. Trust me; they are a complete game-changer for your panty!

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 298mgPotassium: 480mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 316IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 1mg
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3 Comments

  1. Made this for my kids on a busy week night and it has insta my become a fan favorite! So simple, so clean, so delish! Thank you!

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About Sarah
Sarah blair

Adding a generous dose of enthusiasm, excitement, and creativity to the culinary world, Sarah began her career at the French Culinary Institute in NYC. Sarah has worked for the past decade as a Culinary Producer and Food Stylist.

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