This Thai-style cucumber salad recipe is fresh, light, and the perfect complement to chicken satay, curries, summer BBQs, and more! Cool crisp cucumbers get tossed in a tangy Thai dressing to make a delicious side dish any time.
We’re deep into grilling season at our house, and between Chicken Burgers and Chicken Satay Skewers, I’m always in need of a good easy side dish to complete my meal.
This Thai-inspired Cucumber salad is a light, refreshing side dish recipe that’s perfect on a hot day or paired with warm meals. The fresh flavors and cooling cucumber are a perfect complement to all sorts of delicious recipes (more on that in a minute!), and there are many different recipes out there to enjoy. Today, I’m sharing my twist on Thai cucumber salad.
Authentic Thai cucumber salad (Ajaad) is a fresh cucumber quick pickle (some even call it a relish) typically made with cucumbers, Thai chilis, cilantro, and a vinegar syrup made from a mixture of sugar, vinegar, and salt. In a way, it’s kind of a Thai version of refrigerator pickles and strikes the perfect balance of salty, savory, sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors!
I live in an area with many different grocery stores, and I have a REALLY hard time finding Thai red chilis (as in, I can never find them). My take on this classic cucumber salad for satay is made using ingredients that may be easier to find in the United States.
Let’s take a look at the ingredient list…
