Easy Cucumber and Pepper Salad (Viral TikTok Recipe)

Easy Cucumber and Pepper Salad (Viral TikTok Recipe)

Mallory

This 5-minute quick and easy Cucumber and Pepper Salad went viral on TikTok for a reason -- it's crisp, refreshing, and an unbeatable balance of spicy and sweet. A perfect combination of mini cucumbers, sweet peppers, chili oil, ginger salad dressing, and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning with freshly squeezed lime juice on top.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 5

Course lunch

Cuisine Asian

Servings

Equipment

1 mandoline slicer optional

Ingredients

4 mini (persian) cucumbers (or English cucumber)
8 mini sweet peppers (or 1 regular red bell pepper)
4 tablespoon sesame ginger salad dressing (see below for homemade dressing ingredients or use your favorite store-bought ginger dressing)
2 teaspoon chili onion crunch (I use Trader Joe's. FLYBYJING is another popular brand)
1 tablespoon Everything Bagel Seasoning (I use Trader Joe's but you can use any brand)
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium avocado, diced or ½ large avocado

For the Sesame Ginger Dressing

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1.5 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce (to make this recipe gluten-free, use coconut aminos or GF tamari)
2 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoon tahini
1 clove garlic, finely minced
½ tablespoon ginger root, finely grated

Instructions

If making homemade Sesame Ginger Dressing, whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. If using store-bought dressing, you can skip this step!
Slice cucumbers using either a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife. Remove seeds from the sweet bell peppers and dice them into evenly sized pieces. Cut cherry tomatoes into halves and dice avocado. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and avocado.
Add everything bagel seasoning, and chili crisp sauce. Drizzle in ginger dressing.
Give everything a good toss being careful not to smash the avocado.
Hint: if you are sensitive to spice, cut down on the amount of chili crisp sauce.

Video

Notes

Expert Tips

Slice your cucumbers and dice your bell peppers into relatively even-sized pieces.
Prevent the cucumber pepper salad from getting soggy by adding the dressing right before you serve it.
A great way to evenly distribute the flavors is to mix the chili oil sauce and ginger dressing in a small bowl before adding it to the vegetables.

Meal Prep: meal prep by chopping the vegetables including the cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes in advance. When you're ready to serve, add the avocado and dressing.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. If you store it much longer the cucumber will start to lose its crispness.

Registered Dietitian Tip

This Cucumber and Pepper Salad is a refreshing side dish, but it isn't a meal by itself. The best way to make it a balanced meal is to add protein and carbohydrates! I suggest serving it with Honey Garlic Salmon Bites, shrimp, or chicken breast. Make it vegan using a plant-protein. Tofu, edamame, or Roasted Chickpeas pair great with the flavors in this recipe. Add your favorite grain or a slice of crusty sourdough.

More Nutrition Information

Healthy means something different to everyone, but from a nutritional perspective, this cucumber and pepper salad is a nourishing option and can help you meet your daily values. It is made with fresh ingredients and provides several vitamins and other nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants which are important for overall health. Make it a balanced meal by adding protein and a carbohydrate!

For more nutrition information and tips, visit mallorythedietitian.com. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! 😊

Keyword 10 minutes or less, vegetarian

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