Savory Soy Sauce Cucumber and Shiitake Mushroom Salad
10-Minute Recipe! Simple Soy Sauce Cucumber and Shiitake Mushroom Salad
A perfect side dish featuring a fantastic collaboration between shiitake mushrooms and cucumbers! This soy sauce-infused cucumber and mushroom salad is a flavor explosion that can be made in just 10 minutes, even by beginner cooks. The chewy shiitake mushrooms and crisp cucumbers create a delightful texture, while the mushrooms also complement the nutritional profile of the cucumbers, making this dish both delicious and wholesome.
Main Ingredients- 1 cucumber
- 2 shiitake mushrooms
- 0.5 Tbsp coarse salt
Dressing Ingredients- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (or rice syrup)
- 0.5 Tbsp sesame seeds (ground)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (or rice syrup)
- 0.5 Tbsp sesame seeds (ground)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the cucumber thoroughly. Then, slice it lengthwise into pieces about 3-4 cm long. Cutting them into slightly thicker pieces will help maintain their crispness.
Step 2
Add 0.5 Tbsp of coarse salt to the sliced cucumbers and mix well. Let them sit for 5 minutes to draw out excess moisture, ensuring a crisp texture and better flavor absorption.
Step 3
Remove the tough stems from the shiitake mushrooms and clean them. Slice them into strips, similar in length to the cucumber pieces. Blanch the shiitake mushrooms in boiling water for exactly 1 minute. Immediately rinse them under cold water and squeeze out any excess liquid. Be careful not to overcook them, as this will make them soft.
Step 4
In a bowl, take the salted cucumbers and squeeze out as much water as possible before adding them. Similarly, squeeze out the water from the blanched shiitake mushrooms and add them to the bowl with the cucumbers. Ensuring excess water is removed is key to preventing a watery salad.
Step 5
Now, add all the dressing ingredients: 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp vinegar, 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp corn syrup, 0.5 Tbsp ground sesame seeds, and 1 Tbsp sesame oil. Gently toss everything together until well combined. Your delicious soy sauce cucumber and shiitake mushroom salad is ready! It’s great served immediately or chilled after refrigerating.
