Sometimes, you need a little spice to wake up those taste buds. There’s nothing quite like Thai spice, but the complex mixture of different ingredients creates layers upon layers of flavor. Even though the dish has a kick, it keeps you coming back for more, bite after bite. With this salad, you get the cool crunch of cucumber, which almost cleanses the palate as you make your way through this salad. The subtle bite of raw onion goes great with the nutty cashews. It’s an all-around great salad for a hot summer day.
Besides the addicting flavors, this salad can help you increase your water intake. Cucumbers are over 90% water, which is great news if you aren’t the best of keeping track of your water intake. Cucumbers are also rich in antioxidants, which work to combat oxidative stress. One study found that consuming cucumbers daily for one month increased antioxidant activity in the body. Cucumbers may also help lower blood sugar levels. A 2016 test-tube study found that cucumbers were effective a preventing diabetes-related complications.
The one thing to remember about this salad is that you wan to allow for 30 minutes of marination time. By allowing the cucumbers and onions to soak in the dressing, they can absorb more flavor. If you cannot handle a lot of spice, reduce the amount of jalapeño you put in the dressing, or consider removing the seeds.
![Spicy Thai-Style Cucumber Salad](https://d3ixge6icd4njv.cloudfront.net/wp-content/plugins/g5-core/assets/images/placeholder-transparent.png)
- Prep Time:30m
- Total Time:30m
- Serves: 2 servings
- Category: Full Body Cleanse Approved, Salads & Dressings, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 1/4 c freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tbsp. avocado oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp. coconut aminos
- 1 1/2 tsp. raw agave nectar
- 1 small jalapeño pepper, finely diced
For the Salad
- 2 English cucumbers, halved and thinly sliced
- 1/2 c red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 c cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 c raw cashews, chopped
Instructions
For the Dressing
- Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl or jar and whisk to combine. Taste to see if you need to add a touch more agave. You may have a higher or lower spice tolerance, so keep that in mind. Let the flavors intensify while you prepare the salad.
For the Salad
- Add the cucumbers, red onion, cilantro, and cashews to a salad bowl and toss gently to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat all the ingredients. Cover and let stand for about 30 minutes so that the cucumbers and red onion can marinate. Serve and enjoy.