
Cucumber & seaweed salad with sesame mustard dressing
Prep
10 mins
Cook
30 mins
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
This is one of my favourite quick weeknight salads because it comes together in just forty minutes and tastes restaurant quality. I love how the crisp cucumber pairs with the umami depth of dulse seaweed, while silken tofu adds a lovely creamy contrast. The sesame mustard dressing is where the magic happens, bringing everything together with a perfect balance of tangy and nutty flavours. What really draws me to this dish is how seaweed packs an impressive amount of iodine and minerals that support thyroid health, making it as nourishing as it is delicious. It's simple enough for a weeknight dinner yet impressive enough to serve to guests.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 1essential cucumber
- 1 tspsea salt flakes
- 2 tbspdulse seaweed
- 250 gramssilken tofu(drained and thickly sliced)
- ½ tspblack sesame seeds(to garnish)
- 20 gramschives(chopped, or cress, to garnish)
- 2 tbsptahini
- 1½ tspclear honey
- 1 tbspsoy sauce
- 2 tbspjapanese rice vinegar
- ½ tspessential english mustard(or more to taste of you prefer it hotter)
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Slice the ends from the cucumber, then cut in ½ lengthways. Remove the seeds with a teaspoon. Cut the flesh into thin slices, 2mm or less. I recommend the careful use of a mandolin. Put into a bowl, toss with the salt and set aside for 10 minutes.
- 2
Soak the dulse seaweed in another bowl of water for 10 minutes or until it opens out and becomes soft. While you wait, put the dressing ingredients into a bowl, add 1 tbsp water and whisk until creamy.
- 3
Put the cucumber into a colander to drain, then squeeze out as much excess water as you can, by hand or by wringing with a clean tea towel. Drain the seaweed well.
- 4
To serve, put the cucumber into wide bowls with the seaweed on top. Mix the cucumber and seaweed together if liked. Add the tofu, then drizzle over ¾ of the dressing, saving the rest for another time. Garnish with black sesame seeds and the chives or cress, if using, then serve.
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