Description
This Sweet Pepper and Cucumber Salad with Ginger Dressing is a vibrant, refreshing no-cook salad featuring crisp cucumbers and sweet mini peppers tossed in a flavorful homemade ginger-soy dressing. Enhanced with the savory crunch of everything bagel seasoning, this make-ahead salad improves in flavor over time, making it a perfect side dish for any occasion.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 6 mini cucumbers (Persian or Kirby)
- 1 (16-ounce) package mini sweet peppers
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning
Dressing
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger (to yield 1 teaspoon grated)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili crisp (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Thinly slice the cucumbers. Remove the stems and seeds from the mini sweet peppers and thinly slice them as well to ensure a crisp texture throughout the salad.
- Grate the Ginger: Using the sharp edge of a spoon, scrape the skin off the ginger. Then, grate the ginger with a microplane grater until you have about 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger for maximum flavor in the dressing.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, dark sesame oil, grated ginger, low sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, light brown sugar, and optional chili crisp until well combined to create a balanced, tangy, and slightly spicy dressing.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the sliced cucumbers, sweet peppers, thinly sliced green onions, and everything bagel seasoning to add a savory crunch and depth of flavor to the salad.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss thoroughly to evenly coat each piece with the flavorful ginger-soy dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes or longer to allow the flavors to meld and improve. Serve chilled for best taste.
Notes
- This salad is best served chilled and can be made several hours ahead; the flavors intensify with time.
- If you prefer less heat, omit the chili crisp from the dressing.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
- Use Persian cucumbers for fewer seeds and a more delicate texture but Kirby cucumbers work well too.
- Everything bagel seasoning adds a great savory crunch but can be omitted or replaced with sesame seeds if desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American, Asian
