California Roll Cucumber Salad (Printable Version)

A refreshing Japanese-inspired salad featuring crisp cucumbers, creamy avocado, and savory crab tossed in a sushi-style creamy dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 2 English cucumbers, sliced into 1/8-inch thick rounds
02 - 1 cup crab meat or imitation crab, diced
03 - 1 avocado, cubed

→ Dressing

04 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
05 - 2 oz cream cheese, optional
06 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish

→ Optional Add-Ons

08 - 1/4 cup chopped scallions
09 - 1/4 cup chopped radishes

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Slice cucumbers into 1/8-inch thick rounds using a mandoline or sharp knife. Sprinkle lightly with salt and let drain in a colander for 15-20 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine drained cucumber slices, diced crab, and cubed avocado. Add scallions and radishes if desired.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, cream cheese if using, soy sauce, and half the sesame seeds. Adjust proportions to achieve desired creaminess and flavor balance.
04 - Pour dressing over cucumber mixture and toss gently to evenly coat all components.
05 - Serve immediately garnished with remaining sesame seeds. Chill briefly before serving if a colder salad is preferred.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in 10 minutes flat, which means you can impress people without actually breaking a sweat in the kitchen.
  • The creamy dressing tastes like it belongs in a fancy sushi restaurant but costs a fraction of the price and uses ingredients you probably already have.
  • Unlike most salads, this one actually tastes better when it's cold, so you can make it ahead and let the flavors get cozy with each other.
02 -
  • Do not add the avocado until the very last moment before serving, because I learned this the hard way by watching it turn gray and lifeless while waiting for guests to arrive.
  • Pat those cucumbers completely dry after salting them, because any water clinging to them will dilute the dressing and make the whole salad taste disappointing and sad.
03 -
  • If you can't find quality crab meat, use the best imitation crab you can find, but taste the label first because some brands have weird flavors that don't play well with the other ingredients.
  • Use a microplane to add a tiny bit of wasabi directly to the dressing if you want heat without making it obvious, because it dissolves beautifully into the mayo instead of creating little hot pockets.
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