This vegan chicken cucumber salad is infused with fresh ginger and garlic, and seasoned with an Asian-inspired dressing prepared with toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, and white vinegar. A bright, fresh, and protein-packed salad!
Slice the cucumber. Start by slicing the cucumber into ¼-inch thick slices. Next, halve each slice.
Salt. Transfer the sliced cucumber to a mixing bowl and sprinkle with the salt. Toss to coat the cucumbers with salt.
Let drain. Let the cucumber sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes or until some water sits at the bottom of the bowl. Drain the cucumbers and discard the water. Using clean hands, slightly squeeze the cucumber slices to remove more moisture.
Assemble
Make the dressing. Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, maple syrup, minced garlic, ginger, and chili flakes, if using, in a small bowl.
Add all of the ingredients to a bowl. Add the cucumbers, shredded vegan chicken, and dressing to a mixing bowl.
Toss to coat. Finally, toss everything with the sauce. At this point, give it a taste and adjust the saltiness and tanginess according to your preferences.
Serve. You can serve this salad immediately or chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.
Notes
Remove the seeds. If your cucumber has a lot of seeds, scoop them out.
Serve on the same day. I highly recommend serving this salad on the same day for optimal texture. After a day or two, the cucumber tends to lose some crispiness, and the vegan chicken becomes soggier.
Add fresh herbs. For extra freshness, feel free to add chopped cilantro and/or mint.
Garnish. Before serving, top with toasted sesame seeds and a sprinkle of chili flakes for decoration and a pop of color!