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Need some cucumber inspiration? Try Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono) that’s light, healthy, and incredibly refreshing! This sweet and sour cucumber salad with wakame seaweed makes a versatile side dish to serve with any Japanese meal.
When cucumbers are at their peak in gardens and markets, we often find a few lingering around at the kitchen counter. If you are in need of some cucumber inspiration today, I hope you try this refreshing Japanese Cucumber Salad called Sunomono (酢の物). This is one of the most popular appetizers at the dinner table in Japan, and it’s simple and very easy to prepare in a short time.
What is Sunomono?
Sunomono (酢の物) refers to vinegar-based dishes, and they are commonly served as a side dish to the main meal. These light refreshing vinegar salads are a great start to any meal as the sourness from the vinegar helps whet your appetite.
”Su (酢)” means vinegar in Japanese, and when we mention “sunomono,” it typically refers to Japanese cucumber salad. During the heat of summer and our bodies naturally gravitate towards ‘cooling’ food, this cucumber salad makes a wonderful seasonal side dish, especially for grilled fish or meat.
It is tangy, crunchy, and so easy to whip up. Plus, its health benefits are good enough reasons to enjoy on a weekly basis.
How to Make Japanese Cucumber Salad
The Ingredients You’ll Need
- Japanese or Persian cucumbers
- Dried wakame seaweed
- Toasted white sesame seeds
- Dressing: rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and salt
Japanese Cucumbers
Dried Wakame SeaweedSubstitutions
- Japanese cucumbers can be substituted with Persian cucumbers. Both of them don’t contain big seeds like American cucumbers. If you can’t find Japanese or Persian cucumbers, you can use an English cucumber, but scoop out the seeds with a spoon because seeds contain moisture that will dilute the dressing.
- You can skip dried wakame seaweed if you’re not a fan. You can read its health benefits in case you’re interested. Couldn’t find wakame seaweed? Try thinly sliced onion, radish, or carrots for a layer of texture and for additional nutrients.
The Cooking Steps
- Rehydrate dried wakame seaweed in water for 5 minutes.
- Cut the cucumbers into thin slices. Sprinkle the salt and distribute it evenly. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- Squeeze out the liquid from the rehydrated wakame seaweed and cucumbers.
- Make the dressing. Heat the dressing ingredients in a saucepan until the sugar is dissolved.
- Combine the well-drained seaweed and cucumber, sesame seeds, and dressing, and mix them all together. Serve and enjoy!
3 Cooking Tips
- Choose Japanese or Persian cucumbers. Avoid American cucumbers that contain big seeds and more moisture. Their skin is also waxy and thick, which is not ideal for this salad.
- Generously salt the cucumbers. The salt helps draw out the moisture from the cucumbers so it does not dilute the salad dressing after mixing. This ensures a great crunch for the salad.
- Squeeze out the liquid from the rehydrated wakame seaweed and cucumbers. If you don’t, the dressing will be diluted and the salad will have a bland taste.
Non-Vegetarian Variations
The recipe below shows the basic method of making sunomono. You can easily change things up and make variations of the salad by adding the following:
- Crab meat – I am unfortunately allergic to crab, so I used imitation crab meat in this recipe. I have a variation of the recipe here.
- Boiled octopus – I buy boiled octopus from a Japanese grocery store. It’s sold in the sashimi section and the package usually says “octopus sashimi.” You just need to cut it into very thin slices. I have a variation of the recipe here.
- Shirasu (boiled baby anchovies) – Baby anchovies are commonly used in Japan, and they are rich in calcium. If you live by the ocean and have access to anchovies, you should give this a try!
- Ground sesame seeds to the dressing – I have a variation here that I used spiralized cucumbers.
Enjoy the perfect balance of sweet and sour in this delicious cucumber salad!
What to Serve with Japanese Cucumber Salad
- Main: Miso Cod, Baked Chicken Katsu, Simmered Beef and Tofu, Teriyaki Salmon.
- Sides: Spinach Ohitashi, Okra with Ginger Soy Sauce, Pickled Tomato,
- Rice: Japanese Mushroom Rice, Japanese Corn Rice, Takikomi Hijiki Gohan.
- Soup: Kabocha Miso Soup, Tonjiru (Pork and Vegetable Miso Soup), Cold Miso Soup.
If you want to check out other Japanese side dish recipes, read 15 Easy Japanese Side Dish Recipes.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
Gather all the ingredients.
To Make the Dressing
In a saucepan, combine 4 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned), 2 Tbsp sugar, ½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and ½ tsp soy sauce. Alternatively, you can use a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave until the sugar dissolves.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk the ingredients together well. Once the sugar dissolves completely, remove from the heat and let it cool. Tip: If you decrease the sugar amount (which I don't recommend), you may find that the vinegar tastes too strong. If it's still too strong for you after adding the cucumbers, you can dilute it at this stage with a very small amount of Dashi (Japanese soup stock), Vegan Dashi, or water.
To Make the Sunomono
Soak 1 Tbsp dried wakame seaweed in a bowl of water and let it rehydrate for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel the skin of 2 Japanese cucumbers alternately to create a striped pattern. Then, thinly slice the cucumbers into rounds.
Sprinkle 1 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt on the cucumber and gently massage it in. Set aside for 5 minutes. The salt draws out the moisture from the cucumbers so it doesn't dilute the dressing later.
Use your hand(s) to squeeze out the liquid from the rehydrated wakame seaweed and add it to a medium bowl.
Squeeze out the liquid from the cucumber slices. Add them to the bowl with the wakame.
Add ½ Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds and pour the dressing on top.
Toss to combine everything together. Serve in individual bowls or a large serving bowl.
To Make the Variations
Crabmeat: Cut 4 pieces real or imitation crabmeat into thirds lengthwise. Add to the cucumber and wakame seaweed mixture in Step 7.
Boiled octopus: Slice 2 oz octopus sashimi (boiled octopus) thinly. Add in Step 7.
Boiled salted baby anchovies: Add 2 Tbsp shirasu (boiled salted baby anchovies) in Step 7.
To Store
Keep in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for the classic version and 2 days for the seafood variations. However, the cucumber may release more moisture and dilute the sauce, so enjoy it soon!
Calories: 39 kcal · Carbohydrates: 5 g · Protein: 3 g · Fat: 1 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 11 mg · Sodium: 151 mg · Potassium: 106 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 4 g · Vitamin A: 55 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 30 mg · Iron: 1 mg
Author: Namiko Hirasawa Chen
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: cucumber salad, sunomono, wakame
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 23, 2012. It was republished with a new video and images and more helpful information on September 22, 2023.
English (US) · 