Cucumber Salad With Roasted Peanuts and Chile

• servings: 4 servings
• total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

6 Persian cucumbers (about 1 pound), cut lengthwise into thin spears, then cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces

Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

1/4 cup salted, roasted peanuts

1/4 cup cilantro leaves

1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

3 tablespoons natural unsalted peanut butter

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 small garlic clove, grated

Chile oil, store-bought or homemade, for serving (optional)

Directions

Toss cucumbers with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a colander. Set aside to drain.

Chop peanuts, cilantro and red-pepper flakes together until very fine. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Add up to 1 tablespoon water, if needed, to thin mixture. Transfer salted cucumbers to the bowl with dressing and toss to coat.

To serve, place half of the cucumber salad on the plate, sprinkle with half of the peanut mixture. Repeat with the remaining cucumber salad and peanut mixture. Drizzle with chile oil, if using, and serve immediately.