Let’s Make: Din Tai Fung’s Famous Cucumber Salad, but better (If Wanted)
Screw paying $8 for a measly plate of chopped cucumber when you can make a bunch at home for just $5.
This is a little spin-off of the traditional Din Tai Fung one, but I added a little extra kick and boost to the flavor. This extras additions are the optional ingredients that don’t have to be added. But, be warned that the optional grated garlic will absorb a lot of the liquid within the sauce after sitting in it. This will make the sauce a little stickier and thicker, which I personally really enjoy. Who doesn’t like thick, sticky liquid? Especially in bed? And before you judge, I like eating my mashed potatoes and gravy in bed. It’s weirdly comforting. I also like men.
The cucumbers should only be marinated in salt for at most 20 minutes, or else they completely absorb the salt and become really salty. It’s also important to wash and drain the cucumbers very well. You don’t want the extra salt, when there is sodium in the sauce.
Aside from that, if you let the cucumbers marinate in the sauce for longer periods of time, it will become more flavorful.
Let’s Get Cooking!
In-Depth Recipe Below:
Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 3 Persian Cucumbers
- 1 Tsp Salt
Marinade Sauce Ingredients (add based on personal taste):
- ½ Tsp Garlic (Grated & Optional)
- ¼ Tsp Sugar
- 1 Tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Squeeze of Lemon (Optional)
- 1 Tbsp Rice Vinegar
- ¼ Tsp Chili Oil
- 1 Pinch Chili Flakes (Optional)
- 1 Pinch Sesame Seeds
- 1 Drop Sesame Oil (Optional, but not shown in video)
Instructions
Procedure:
- Chop Cucumbers into rounds and mix in the salt to marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Mix the marinade sauce ingredients together. Let it sit for at least an hour if you want it to be thicker
- Rinse and squeeze the cucumbers to remove the excess salt and water. Add in marinade sauce and marinate. Marinate longer for better taste.
Notes
In-Depth Recipe:
Din Tai Fung’s Cucumber Salad, But Better (If Wanted)
- Chop the cucumbers into round and mix in the salt. Let it sit in the salt for 15-20 minutes. This period of time is the optimal moment to make the sauce.
2. Mix together Garlic, Sugar, Soy Sauce, Lemon Juice,Rice Vinegar, Chili Oil, Chili Flakes, and Sesame seeds, and Sesame Oil. If you want the marinating sauce to be thicker and stickier, make the sauce ahead of time and let it sit for about a minute. This will allow the Grated Garlic (if added) to absorb some of the liquid.
3. Rinse the salt off of the cucumbers and squeeze out the excess water off of them. Add in the marinate made in the step above and mix them together. Ff you let the cucumbers marinate in the sauce for longer periods of time, it will become more flavorful.
