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    Home » Healthy Appetizers & Hors D'Oeuvres » Spicy Pickled Cucumbers Recipe

    Spicy Pickled Cucumbers Recipe

    Jun 20, 2021 · by Valentina · 24 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This quick and easy recipe for Spicy Pickled Cucumbers will knock your socks off. It's a pretty successful rendition of the incredibly delicious Din Tai Fung cucumber salad recipe. The perfect appetizer or side, they're spicy, sweet, crispy and refreshing. several small bowls of spicy pickled cucumbers

    A few years ago my friend Rebecca took me on a Chinese food tour in Los Angeles.

    We went to several places, but one restaurant stood out the most, Din Tai Fung -- where I had the most amazing Spicy Pickled Cucumbers that came in a tiny bowl as a side dish. 

    I recreated them for you!

    These cucumbers are spicy, crisp, refreshing, and a little bit sweet -- all at once!

    sliced Persian cucumbers

    Din Tai Fung Cucumber Recipe

    At Din Tai Fung Rebecca ordered Juicy Pork Dumplings -- hands down, the most delicious dumplings I've ever had. (Each small dumpling was like having a bite of warm, comforting, hearty soup.)

    To complement the dumplings, Rebecca also ordered a wonderful dish of Spicy Pickled Cucumbers, which was a highlight that I've recreated here.

    This might not be exactly the way the Din Tai Fung cucumber salad recipe is made, but I think I've come pretty close!

    How to Make Spicy Pickled Cucumbers

    - Slice the cucumbers into rounds and place them in a bowl sprinkled with salt. Let them sit for twenty minutes and then drain and rinse them with cold water. Dry them with paper towels and place them in a another bowl.

    spoon with cucumber slices in glass bowlLook how much excess water is removed from the cucumbers when they sit for twenty minutes mixed with salt.

    - Warm sugar with rice vinegar only until it dissolves. Pour this over the cucumbers, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let them marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

    - In a small sauté pan, heat grapeseed oil with sesame oil and chili paste. Cook only until it's sizzling, about two minutes. Stir and cool.

    - Add the chili oil to the cucumbers, refrigerate for at least two hours and ideally overnight.

    (More detailed instructions are below.)

    close up of spicy cucumbers in a small dish

    What to Serve with Spicy Pickled Cucumbers

    I think this cucumber dish is fabulous with all sorts of grilled meats and vegetables -- especially with Asian flavors. The sweet-spicy refreshing taste perfectly compliments the robust char from the grill.

    Marinated Grilled Portobello Mushrooms would be delicious alongside the cucumbers.

    I also love them with this Asian inspired tofu dish, and this amazing Miso Broiled Black Cod.

    How long will they keep?

    Spicy Pickled Cucumbers will keep well a few weeks in the refrigerator.

    Recipe Tips

    • Don't skip the first step of letting the cucumbers sit in salt for twenty minutes. I know it's tempting to save time, but this step removes excess water from cucumbers, and adds flavor.
    • If your prefer more or less heat, adjust the chili paste amount to your taste.
    • I always like using very neutral oils when I cook with Asian flavors so it doesn't compete or detract from the other flavors. The recipe calls for grapeseed oil -- you could also use vegetable or canola oil.
    • I think this is best served cold and after marinating overnight.

    I hope you love my version of the Din Tai Fung Cucumber recipe as much as I do!


    * If you're curious, here's a list of the other awesome places Rebecca took me to . . . .

    Tour guide for LA Chinese food tour
    Rebecca, ordering our goodies at VP Tofu

    Si Hai Restaurant -- Here we had an amazing Tawianese breakfast of a hand pie called Ngau Yuk Sau Ban. It was made with pickled vegetables and very thinly sliced marinated beef all wrapped into a super, flaky and light pastry -- similar to puff pastry, only made with pork fat instead of butter.
    VP Tofu
    Here Rebecca picked up a delicious dessert for her family, Do Fu Fa, which means soybean custard -- it's served with a lovely, light ginger syrup.
    Half & Half Tea House
    I had a delicious, delightful drink here -- Coffee & Milk Tea with Boba.

    small bowl of spicy pickled cucumbers

    Spicy Pickled Cucumbers Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    This quick and easy recipe for Spicy Pickled Cucumbers will knock your socks off. It's refreshing, spicy and crunchy, all at once.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 minutes mins
    Marinating Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 39 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 6
    Calories 111 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound small pickling cucumbers (Persian are great), washed and dried
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 3½ tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
    • 2½ tablespoons granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup grapeseed oil
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1½ tablespoons chili paste (Sambal Oelek is perfect)

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the cucumbers. After the cucumbers are washed and dried, cut them into ¼ to ½ inch rounds and place them in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle them with the salt and gently mix. Let them sit for 20 minutes. Pour the salted cucumbers into a strainer and drain and rinse them with cold water. Dry them with paper towels and place them in a new mixing bowl. Set aside.
    • Prepare the vinegar and marinate. In a small sauté pan, over low heat, warm the sugar with the vinegar only until it dissolves, about 2 minutes. Pour this over the cucumbers and gently mix. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let them marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Stir them once or twice during this time.
    • Make chili oil. In a small sauté pan, heat the grapeseed oil with the sesame oil and chili paste. Cook only until it's sizzling, about 2 minutes. Stir and let it cool to room temperature.
    • Add the chili oil, marinate and serve. Remove the cucumbers from the refrigerator. Stir in the chili oil and return them to the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and ideally overnight to continue to marinate.

    NOTES

    Calorie count is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 111kcal
    Keywords Asian side dishes, vegan side dishes, vegan appetizers
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. angiesrecipes

      June 21, 2021 at 2:37 am

      Spicy, crunchy cucumbers are the perfect summer appetizer.
      angiesrecipes

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 22, 2021 at 4:26 pm

        Yes, love them during the summer. Thanks, Angie. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    2. 2pots2cook

      June 21, 2021 at 8:31 am

      5 stars
      We are used to "quick pickled" cucumbers and I make a jar every now and then but this is completely new level for me ! Great twist Valentina !

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 22, 2021 at 4:25 pm

        Thanks so much. Hope you love them! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    3. Mindi

      June 21, 2021 at 10:09 am

      Love Din Tai Fung...been going for years and always order the spicy cucumbers. I'm trying your recipe today!! (Next time you get there--try the spicy wontons--OH MY!)

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 21, 2021 at 1:45 pm

        Yay! This makes me happy, Mindi. Thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    4. Liz

      June 21, 2021 at 6:51 pm

      5 stars
      Yum!! I adore cucumbers and these sound delicious!!! A fun new pickle to try this summer.

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 22, 2021 at 4:25 pm

        Thanks so much, Liz. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    5. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

      June 22, 2021 at 5:31 am

      I love how straightforward this is. I bet it tastes so fresh! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 22, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        Thank you, Jeff. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    6. Kim Lange

      June 22, 2021 at 8:14 am

      Such an awesome side dish and love the spicy!

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 22, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        Thanks, Kim! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    7. Marissa

      June 22, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      Your timing is perfect, Valentina! We have cucumbers coming in our farm share and I hadn't figured out what to do with them. Now I know because these spicy, pickled cucs look addictive!

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 22, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        Yay! Thanks, Marissa. Hope you love them. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    8. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      June 23, 2021 at 6:26 am

      5 stars
      I love all the spices with these cucumbers! Perfect for hot summer days! I can wait to give them a try.

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 23, 2021 at 1:33 pm

        Thanks, Kathy. Hope you're enjoying the beginning of summer! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    9. John / Kitchen Riffs

      June 23, 2021 at 8:48 am

      Such a terrific dish! SO simple, and nice, direct flavors. Thanks!

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 23, 2021 at 1:33 pm

        Thank you, John. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    10. Chef Mimi

      June 24, 2021 at 4:01 pm

      I’m so excited about this recipe. I’ve never wanted to make pickles, for some reason, but I love everything pickled! And I’ve got cucumbers in the garden. Thanks!

      Reply
      • valentina

        July 06, 2021 at 12:48 pm

        Thank you, Mimi. I really hope you like this recipe -- they are so delicious and quite pickle-like, which is an odd thing to say because they're "pickled!" 😉 ~Valentina

        Reply
    11. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      June 25, 2021 at 4:56 am

      5 stars
      I love pickled veg, but I've never had pickled cucumbers! Given that they're spicy and pickled, I know I'd just love them. This is something I would reach for when I'm feeling a little hungry and want a snack. Delish! 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        July 06, 2021 at 12:50 pm

        Thanks Dawn. I hope you try and love them! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    12. David Scott Allen

      July 01, 2021 at 8:10 am

      I actually made this before I had a chance to comment. We love cucumber salad, and the spicy version was absolutely perfect with our noodle dish the other evening. Thanks for yet another recipe that I know will become a standard in our house!

      PS - isn’t sambal oelek the best?

      Reply
      • valentina

        July 06, 2021 at 12:51 pm

        You are so kind, David. Thank you. Makes me so happy you like this and other recipes of mine. And yes, I'm never without Sambal Oelek! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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