This refreshing salad has a bit of a kick from the ginger, but also some sweetness and acidity from the mirin and red wine vinegar. In my opinion, it pairs well with some miso ginger grilled salmon on a hot summer night! Cucumbers are composed of 95% water, making them an incredibly hydrating food to eat! Read more about the health benefits of cucumbers below.
Ingredients: (serves 2 as a side)
1 large cucumber
1 tsp finely grated ginger
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp mirin
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of red pepper flakes
served with grilled salmon and asparagus for a quick and delicious summer dinner
Directions:
Thinly slice the cucumber, preferably using a mandolin. Set aside.
In a medium sized bowl, combine the ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and mirin.
Add cucumber slices and toss well.
Top with a pinch of sea salt and red pepper flakes
Health Benefits of Cucumbers:
Cucumbers are 95% water, so they hydrate you and keep you feeling full and satiated - they also help to reduce bloating
Because of their high water content, when applied to the skin, they can reduce swelling, irritation and inflammation
They have compounds that support liver functioning to cleanse toxins from your blood stream and gut
They are a highly alkalizing food, which helps balance the bodyβs pH levels, especially if your diet is comprised of many acidic foods
Cucumbers have been used in traditional medicine to prevent and treat headaches because their high water and magnesium content helps balance fluids in the body
Sources and additional reading:
https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/13-benefits-cucumber/
https://www.livescience.com/51000-cucumber-nutrition.html
https://draxe.com/cucumber-nutrition/
