Salad Recipes
Peanut Cucumber Salad Recipe
This crunchy peanut cucumber salad combines roasted peanuts, crisp cucumber, celery, and carrots with a tangy garlic-vinegar dressing. Light, refreshing, and full of texture, it makes a perfect Chinese-style appetizer or side dish.
- Total
- 20 Minutes
Quick Recipe Summary
- Cuisine
- Chinese
- Category
- Salad Recipes
- Method
- Stir-fry
- Total Time
- 20 Minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Main Ingredient
- bowl Peanuts
About This Recipe
This crunchy peanut cucumber salad combines roasted peanuts, crisp cucumber, celery, and carrots with a tangy garlic-vinegar dressing. Light, refreshing, and full of texture, it makes a perfect Chinese-style appetizer or side dish.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ready in about 20 minutes, so it can fit into a busy cooking day.
- Beginner-friendly enough for cooks who are still building confidence in the kitchen.
- Gives the dish a clear tangy and savory flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.
- Useful as a reference recipe because the steps explain both what to do and what to watch for.
Ingredients
- 1 bowl Peanuts
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 section Carrot
- 1 stalk Celery
- 2 cloves Garlic
- a little Oil
- a few drops Shaoxing Wine
- to taste Salt
- to taste Soy Sauce
- to taste Vinegar
- as needed Cilantro
Ingredient Notes
These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust.
bowl Peanuts
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Cucumber
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
section Carrot
Vegetables bring texture and freshness; cut them evenly so they cook or ferment at a similar pace.
stalk Celery
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Ingredients & Techniques Used in This Recipe
These guides explain the key sauces, ingredients, and cooking techniques used in this recipe, so you can understand the dish instead of only following steps.
Sauce
Shaoxing Wine
Chinese cooking wine used in marinades, stir-fries, braises, and sauces.
Sauce
Light Soy Sauce
The everyday soy sauce for salt, umami, marinades, and stir-fry seasoning.
Sauce
Black Vinegar
A deep Chinese vinegar for dipping sauces, noodles, braises, and sour-spicy dishes.
Sauce
Chili Oil
A chili oil or chili crisp adds heat, aroma, and crunch to noodles, dumplings, and rice.
Technique
How to Stir Fry Properly
Learn heat control, ingredient order, sauce timing, and quick wok cooking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Soak the peanuts in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain.
Step 2
Heat a wok with a small amount of oil and stir-fry the peanuts until dry and fragrant.
Step 3
Add a few drops of Shaoxing wine. Once the peanut skins begin to crack, remove from heat and let cool completely.
Step 4
Wash the cucumber, carrot, celery, and garlic.
Step 5
Dice the cucumber and carrot, slice the celery, and finely mince the garlic.
Step 6
Combine the vegetables and cooled peanuts in a large bowl. Season with salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
Step 7
Add chopped cilantro and toss until evenly coated.
Step 8
Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving.
Cooking Tips
- Adding a few drops of Shaoxing wine while roasting the peanuts helps create a crisp texture.
- Allow the peanuts to cool completely before mixing with the vegetables.
- Use rice vinegar, black vinegar, or aromatic vinegar according to your preference.
- For a spicy version, add chili oil or dried chili flakes.
- Serve chilled for the best flavor and crunch.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
- Add a light soup or cold vegetable side if the stir-fry is salty, spicy, or saucy.
- Keep rice or noodles ready before cooking because stir-fries are best served immediately.
Recipe Card
This crunchy peanut cucumber salad combines roasted peanuts, crisp cucumber, celery, and carrots with a tangy garlic-vinegar dressing. Light, refreshing, and full of texture, it makes a perfect Chinese-style appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 bowl Peanuts
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 section Carrot
- 1 stalk Celery
- 2 cloves Garlic
- a little Oil
- a few drops Shaoxing Wine
- to taste Salt
- to taste Soy Sauce
- to taste Vinegar
- as needed Cilantro
Method
- Soak the peanuts in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain.
- Heat a wok with a small amount of oil and stir-fry the peanuts until dry and fragrant.
- Add a few drops of Shaoxing wine. Once the peanut skins begin to crack, remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Wash the cucumber, carrot, celery, and garlic.
- Dice the cucumber and carrot, slice the celery, and finely mince the garlic.
- Combine the vegetables and cooled peanuts in a large bowl. Season with salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
- Add chopped cilantro and toss until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving.
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