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    Home » All Recipes » Vegetable Dishes

    Sunomono Salad Recipe (Japanese Cucumber Salad)

    May 7, 2023 by JURI · This post may contain affiliate links

    5 from 4 votes
    JUMP TO RECIPE JUMP TO VIDEO

    Looking for a light and refreshing addition to your meals? Try this Japanese Sunomono Salad, also known as a cucumber salad! It's easy, healthy, and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare!

    sunomono salad served in a white bowl.

    If you're a fan of Japanese cuisine, you may have already savored this wonderful dish at one of your favorite Japanese restaurants. This cucumber salad is a popular side dish, especially during the hot summer months. Its invigorating flavor makes it a perfect accompaniment to any meal.

    Try this simple and easy-to-follow cucumber recipe at home!

      This recipe is for you if:
    • You love Japanese sunonmono salad.
    • You are looking for a simple recipe with cucumber.
    • You want to try an easy Japanese cumber salad.

    Let me show you how to make it. If you want to check the recipe immediately, please visit the link below. Let's get started!

    Jump to:
    • About this recipe
    • What is Sunomono?
    • 📋 Ingredients
    • Japanese Cucumbers
    • Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • Storage
    • Variations
    • What to serve with
    • Thanks for Stopping By!
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    About this recipe

    • Japanese Sunomono salad recipe
    • Easy and refreshing side dish
    • It's ready in under 10 mins

    What is Sunomono?

    sunomono salad illustration.

    Sunomono is a Japanese dish that consists of sliced raw vegetables or seafood that are marinated in vinegar dressing.

    This refreshing and tangy salad with a sweet flavor is a popular side dish or appetizer in Japan. You can make this dish with a variety of ingredients, but when it comes to sunomono, typically, people associate it with the combination of cucumber and wakame seaweed.

    By the way, the Japanese words "sunomono" translates to "vinegared things" ("suno" meaning vinegar, and "mono" meaning thing or object).

    📋 Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients (amounts are in the recipe card below).

    Ingredients for sunomono salad.
    • Japanese cucumbers: See below.
    • Dried wakame seaweed: A type of edible seaweed that is often used for miso soup and salads.
    • Salt
    • Dressing: Rice vinegar, sugar, soy sauce
    • Toasted white sesame seeds (optional)

    Japanese Cucumbers

    Japanese cucumbers.

    Japanese cucumbers, also known as Kyuri, are a popular vegetable in Japanese cuisine. They are slim, with a crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor.

    If you cannot find Japanese cucumbers at your local store, you can substitute them with Persian cucumbers. English cucumbers are also good substitutes.

    You don't need to peel Japanese cucumbers as they have thin skin. However, if you pick a different type of cucumber which have a bitter, thick skin, then you may want to peel them before use.

    Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients

    If you live in the US, you can find Japanese ingredients in the list below.

    • Japanese market: Mitsuwa Marketplace, Marukai
    • Asian market
    • Whole Foods Market
    • Health food stores
    • Online stores: Instacart, Walmart, Amazon

    🔪Instructions

    How to make it is super easy! Let me show you how.

    1. Slice cucumbers
    2. Add salt
    3. Dehydrate seaweed
    4. Add dressing
    5. Add wakame seaweed

    Step 1

    sliced Japanese cucumbers in a bowl.

    Wash the cucumber, cut off the ends, and slice it thinly with a sharp knife.

    slicing Japanese cucumbers using a slicer.

    Or use a mandolin slicer to make very thin slices evenly if you have one. It also saves you time.

    Step 2

    Sliced Japanese cucumbers in a bowl.

    Place the slices in a medium bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let the cucumbers sit for about 5 minutes.

    Step 3

    Dried wakame seaweed soaking in a bowl.

    While the cucumbers are sitting, take a small bowl and soak the dried wakame seaweed in cold water for about 5-10 minutes until it is rehydrated. Drain the seaweed completely.

    Step 4

    Sliced Japanese cucumbers in a bowl.

    Once the cucumbers have sat for 5 minutes, remove any excess water.

    Sliced Japanese cucumbers and seasonings in a bowl.

    Add rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce to the bowl.

    Sliced Japanese cucumbers and seasonings in a bowl.

    And toss the cucumbers well with the seasoning.

    Step 5

    Sliced Japanese cucumbers, wakame seaweed, and seasonings in a bowl.

    Finally, add the rehydrated wakame seaweed to the bowl and toss everything together. Sprinkle toasted white sesame seeds over the salad.

    Serve

    sunomono salad served in a white bowl.

    Serve it in a small bowl, and enjoy your refreshing sunomono salad!

    Storage

    Transfer the salad to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep well for 3 to 4 days.

    Variations

    Are you looking to add some variety to your sunomono salad? Try out these fresh vegetables!

    • Carrot
    • Cabbage
    • Daikon radish
    • Turnip
    • Celery
    • Onion
    • Broccoli
    • Cherry tomatoes

    What to serve with

    Sunomono salad is a delicious side dish that can complement a variety of dishes. Pair it with the main dish, soup, and rice for a complete and satisfying Japanese meal!

    • Sunomono salad
    • Vegetable tempura
    • Onigiri rice balls
    • Tofu miso soup
    • Kinpira Gobo

    Thanks for Stopping By!

    sunomono salad served in a white bowl.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my blog♡ If you’ve tried this recipe (or any other recipe on the blog), please give it a star rating below!

    Also, feel free to leave comments if you have any questions. I love hearing from you!

    Chef JA Cooks is a Japanese food blog that shares simple and healthy Japanese home cooking recipes, including vegan and vegetarian. From traditional Japanese recipes to modern recipes with step-by-step instructions.

    More Japanese Salad Recipes You Might Like

    • Daikon squash salad with sesame dressing
    • Wakame seaweed salad
    • Kabocha salad with egg
    • Okara salad (Soy pulp salad)
    • Asparagus salad with boiled eggs

    📖 Recipe

    sunomono salad served on a bowl.

    Sunomono Salad Recipe (Japanese Cucumber Salad)

    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin SAVE SAVED!
    Prep: 6 minutes minutes
    Cook: 2 minutes minutes
    Total: 8 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Author: JURI
    Looking for a light and refreshing addition to your meals? Try this Japanese Sunomono Salad, also known as a cucumber salad! It's easy, healthy, and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare!
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 Cucumber
    • 1 tablespoon Dried Wakame Seaweed, 5g
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt

    Dressing

    • 1 tablespoon Rice vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Soy Sauce
    • Toasted White Sesame Seeds, optional

    Instructions

    • Slice cucumber: Wash the cucumber, cut off the ends, and slice it thinly. Use a slicer to slice the cucumber thinly and evenly and save time.
    • Add salt: Place the slices in a medium bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let the cucumbers sit for about 5 minutes.
    • Soak seaweed: While the cucumbers are sitting, take a small bowl and soak the dried wakame seaweed in cold water for about 5-10 minutes until it is rehydrated. Drain the seaweed completely.
    • Add Seasoning: Once the cucumbers have sat for 5 minutes, remove any excess water and add rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce to the bowl. Toss the cucumbers well with the seasoning.
    • Add wakame seaweed: Finally, add the rehydrated wakame seaweed to the bowl and toss everything together.
    • Topping: Sprinkle toasted white sesame seeds over the salad.

    Video

    Notes

    • Storage: Transfer the salad to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep well for 3 to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 11kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.8g | Protein: 0.6g | Sodium: 226mg | Sugar: 1.1g
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Keyword: cucumber salad, sunomono salad
    Did You Make this recipe?Please Leave a star rating!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Harold

      May 10, 2023 at 11:16 pm

      5 stars
      I like my sunomono too be a little more sour so added another tablespoon of vinegar. It was perfect! Thanks.

      Reply
      • JURI

        May 11, 2023 at 2:26 am

        You are very welcome, Harold! I'm glad to hear you tweaked it for your taste!

        Reply

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