Recipe: Indochinese Cucumber Salad

Indochinese Cucumber Salad

Actually more like a fresh relish, variations of this salad are served throughout Thailand, Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Always served in small portions, some recipes contain mint, others cilantro; some use lime juice, others rice, white or cider vinegar; some are topped with chopped toasted peanuts, others with fiercely potent red pepper. All, though, use the fresh, tart taste of the cucumber as a basic way of cleansing the palate, complimenting the overall experience of the meal. Play around with different proportions and try varying the ingredients. I have to admit that as many times as I've made this salad, I doubt I've ever made it exactly the same way twice.

Ingredients

1 large cucumber
salt
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped
3 teaspoons fish sauce
dash of crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1/2 lime
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
toasted sesame seeds

1. Peel the cucumber. Quarter it lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Cut the quarters into 1/4 inch thick pieces. Lightly salt them and leave to drain in a colander for 15 to 30 minutes.

2. Squeeze the lime juice into a small bowl. Mix in all remaining ingredients except the sesame seeds.

3. Dry the cucumbers and mix together with the dressing. Chill for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve with the reserved sesame seeds on top.

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