Spicy Cucumber Noodle Bowl (Printable)

Fresh spiralized cucumbers mixed with a bold chili sauce for a crunchy, flavorful meal.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, spiralized or julienned
02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned (optional)
03 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sauce

05 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
06 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
07 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
08 - 1 tablespoon chili crisp or chili oil
09 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
10 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
11 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Toppings (optional)

13 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts or cashews, chopped
14 - Extra chili crisp
15 - Lime wedges

# Preparation steps:

01 - Spiralize the cucumbers and gently pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a large bowl, mix spiralized cucumber, julienned carrot, sliced scallions, and chopped cilantro.
03 - Whisk together soy sauce (or tamari), rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili crisp, maple syrup, minced garlic, grated ginger, and toasted sesame seeds until well blended.
04 - Pour the sauce over the vegetable mixture and toss gently to coat thoroughly.
05 - Divide the salad between bowls, garnish with chopped nuts, additional chili crisp, and lime wedges as desired.
06 - Serve immediately to maintain optimal crunch and freshness.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, which means you can make it on a Tuesday when nothing else sounds appealing.
  • The contrast between cool, crisp cucumber and that spicy, umami-rich sauce is genuinely addictive.
  • It tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to mingle together.
02 -
  • The texture is everything—if your cucumbers are wet, the whole dish falls apart into a limp, sad situation, so take the drying step seriously.
  • Make the sauce first and let the garlic and ginger sit in it for a minute before tossing; it mellows slightly and distributes more evenly throughout the bowl.
  • This is genuinely better fresh, but if you have leftovers, keep the components separate and assemble them the next day for maximum crunch.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of sauce and keep it in a jar in the fridge—it becomes its own dressing for salads, grains, or even roasted vegetables later in the week.
  • The best cucumber spiralizers have a built-in catch tray to contain all the juice and make cleanup less of a disaster.
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