How do you make a cucumber noodle salad with sesame and lime?

Cucumber Noodle Salad with Sesame & Lime

Prepared by Cookinglife – Where every meal becomes an adventure!

This fresh cucumber noodle salad is a light and refreshing dish, perfect for a summer lunch or as a side with your evening meal. The combination of sesame oil, lime and fresh coriander delivers a burst of Asian flavours, while it's easy to add extra protein for a more filling meal. Enjoy this simple, wholesome creation that you can put on the table in no time — with the Cookinglife motto: "Turn cooking into a daily celebration!"

Ingredients (serves 2–4):

• 2 medium cucumbers (about 400 g total)
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• Juice of 2 limes (about 60 ml)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 handful of fresh coriander, roughly chopped (about 20 g)
• 200 g crispy tofu or edamame beans (for extra protein and bite; fry or roast the tofu in advance)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the cucumbers: Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and use a spiraliser to cut them into long noodles. If you don't have a spiraliser, use a julienne peeler or slice them into thin strips with a knife. Place the cucumber noodles in a large bowl and pat them dry with kitchen paper to remove excess moisture.
2. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, lime juice and soy sauce. Taste and adjust as needed — add a little more lime juice for extra brightness.
3. Bring it all together: Pour the dressing over the cucumber noodles and toss gently with a spoon until everything is evenly coated. Add the fresh coriander and toss again.
4. Add extra bite: Fry the tofu in a pan with a little oil until golden and crispy (about 5–7 minutes over medium heat), or use ready-to-eat edamame beans. Add the crispy tofu or edamame to the salad and fold everything together gently.
5. Serve straight away: Spoon the salad into bowls and enjoy! This salad is at its best when fresh, so serve it immediately for maximum crunch.

Tips and unique twists from Cookinglife:

At Cookinglife we believe in making recipes work for your lifestyle, so cooking always feels like a joy. For a gluten-free version, swap the soy sauce for tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce — same great flavour, no worries! To make it lower in sodium, reduce the soy sauce to ½ tablespoon or choose a low-sodium version, and add extra lime juice for more depth of flavour. For a sugar-free option, skip any added sweeteners (though this recipe is already naturally sugar-free) and experiment with fresh ginger for an extra kick. Here's to your culinary adventure — at Cookinglife we say: "Every bite counts!"