Japanese-Style, Quick Pickled Cucumbers

I started making spicy tuna rice bowls at home a few months ago. The very first time I made these bowls for dinner, I found some wrinkling cucumbers in my fridge and decided to give them a quick Japanese-inspired pickle to put alongside the spicy tuna. I hadn’t pickled anything in ages but grabbed a few ingredients, threw them into a bowl, and had a tasty topper for my rice bowls in less than thirty minutes. Since that evening last September, I’ve been whipping up these quick pickles about once a month. The recipe couldn’t be simpler. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• Persian Cucumbers [ 2 ] 
• Rice Wine Vinegar [ 4 Tablespoons or 1/4 Cup ] 
• Toasted Sesame Oil [ 1 Teaspoon ]
• Honey [1 Teaspoon ] or Sugar [ 1/2 Teaspoon ] 
• Garlic Powder [ 1/4 Teaspoon ]
• Soy Sauce [ 1 Teaspoon ] or Salt [ A dash ]
• Furikake Seasoning or Toasted Sesame Seeds [ A few sprinkles ]
• Chili Flakes [ A few sprinkles ] or Chili Oil [ 1/2 Teaspoon ] *Optional

TOOLS

• Sharp Knife & Cutting Board or Mandoline
• Bowl or Shallow Dish
• Measuring Spoons

YIELD

This recipe feeds 2 – 4 people.

Step One

Have fun! 

Step Two

Add the rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, honey/sugar, soy sauce/salt, and chili (if you are so inclined) into your bowl. I just eyeball all of the amounts when I pour them into my bowl, but feel free to use the estimated measurements shown in the ingredient list above if you prefer.

Stir to combine until the sweetener of your choice is fully dissolved.

Step Three

Slice the cucumbers into circles with a knife or a mandoline. Any width 1/8 of an inch or thinner works just fine. I slice my cucumbers closer to 1/8″ in order to keep them crunchy.

Step Four

Add the sliced cucumbers into your pickling liquid and give it a good stir.

Step Five

Sprinkle a bit of the Furikake seasoning or your toasted sesame seeds over the cucumbers, and mix to combine.

Step Six

Lastly, cover your cucumbers and allow them to rest.
> Counter: 15 minutes – 1 Hour
> Fridge: 1 Hour and Beyond

Step Seven

Enjoy your pickled cucumbers alone, over a bed of rice, or as a simple side dish. I always sprinkle a bit more Furikake over the top when I’m ready to serve these sweet & sour, crunchy bites of perfection.