Salt the cucumbers: Add the cucumbers to a bowl and sprinkle a little salt over top of them, tossing and sprinkling again to cover all of the cucumbers so they release their water. Let them sit for 5–10 minutes then, with clean hands, squeeze them in batches (as much as can fit into your hands) over the sink to release as much water as possible. Transfer them to a clean bowl once squeezed.
2
Add the torn nori sheets and bell pepper to the bowl and toss.
3
Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour over the cucumber mixture and mix together. Toss.
4
Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
5
Store in the refrigerator until ready to consume.
Chef's Notes
Substitutions Use yellow, green, or orange bell pepper in place of red bell pepper.
Substitute arame in place of wakame.
Using Wakame or Nori Sheets These come in dried form. Once you add them to the cucumbers with the marinade, they’ll rehydrate and soften.
Whole Food Sweetener Use date paste in place of maple syrup.
Prep Ahead Make the marinade ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days before making this recipe.
Storage Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Ingredients
2large cucumbers (English, Persian, or Japanese work best, skin on if unwaxed and peeled if waxed)
⅓cupwakame or nori sheets (roughly torn into 1” long pieces, see Chef’s Notes)
⅔cupred bell pepper (seeded, diced)
Marinade
¼cuporganic rice vinegar
2tbspmaple syrup (or date paste, link in Chef’s Notes)
Salt the cucumbers: Add the cucumbers to a bowl and sprinkle a little salt over top of them, tossing and sprinkling again to cover all of the cucumbers so they release their water. Let them sit for 5–10 minutes then, with clean hands, squeeze them in batches (as much as can fit into your hands) over the sink to release as much water as possible. Transfer them to a clean bowl once squeezed.
2
Add the torn nori sheets and bell pepper to the bowl and toss.
3
Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour over the cucumber mixture and mix together. Toss.
