1-Step 1: Prepare the Cucumbers Start by thoroughly washing the cucumbers to remove any dirt or residue from the skin. Remove both ends of each cucumber using a sharp knife. If you’re using larger English cucumbers instead of mini or Persian varieties, you may want to peel them partially or completely, depending on your preference for skin texture.

2-Step 2: Create Spiral Cuts Place one cucumber between two chopsticks to act as a guide. Make thin diagonal slices on one side of the cucumber, being careful not to cut all the way through the chopsticks will prevent this. Flip the cucumber over and repeat the diagonal slicing process on the other side to create spiral patterns. Finally, cut the cucumbers in half and transfer them to a large bowl. If you’re short on time, simply thinly slice the cucumbers without spiraling them either way, you’ll still get that crunchy, flavorful side dish ready in no time.

3-Step 3: Salt and Rest the Cucumbers Sprinkle the 2 teaspoons of salt over the prepared cucumbers and gently massage it into them with your hands. This step is crucial as it draws out excess moisture from the cucumbers, which will prevent your spicy cucumber salad from becoming watery. Let the salted cucumbers sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, but no more than 10 minutes, as they can become too salty if left longer.

4-Step 4: Rinse and Drain After the resting period, rinse the cucumbers thoroughly with cold water 3-4 times to remove the excess salt. It’s important to rinse well to avoid an overly salty taste in the final dish. Drain the cucumbers well, pressing them gently to remove as much water as possible. You can also pat them dry with paper towels if needed.

5-Step 5: Prepare the Dressing While the cucumbers are draining, combine all the dressing ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix together 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon chili oil, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and 2 tablespoons of finely sliced green onion. Whisk the ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved completely. For those who enjoy a bit more heat, this is also the perfect time to add additional chili oil or other spicy elements to customize the heat level to your preference.

6-Step 6: Combine and Toss Pour the prepared dressing over the drained cucumbers and gently mix everything together. Use a spatula or salad servers to fold the dressing through the cucumbers, ensuring they’re evenly coated without crushing the delicate spiral shapes. The dressing should cling to every nook and cranny of the cucumber spirals for maximum flavor in every bite.

7-Step 7: Serve or Chill For the freshest crunch, serve the spiral cucumber salad immediately after tossing with the dressing. If you prefer deeper flavors, refrigerate the salad for 10 more minutes before serving. This brief marinating time allows the flavors to meld beautifully while the cucumbers retain their satisfying crisp texture. Just before serving, sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.