Copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad Recipe (2024)

August 18, 2023August 5, 2021 by Erin

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This copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad is bursting with flavor. Beautifully marinated cucumbers drizzled in chili oil is an outstanding vegetarian appetizer you can enjoy for any special occasion!

A crisp cucumber salad, like my Asian Cucumber Salad and Thai Cucumber Salad, is always a great choice when you need something refreshing on a hot day. For those special occasions in summer, serve this copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad instead!

In order to be authentic, Din Tai Fung copycat recipes must be bold, flavorful, a bit spicy, and out-of-this-world delicious. Kind of like these Din Tai Fung Green Beans!

This Taiwanese restaurant is best known for its unique wontons, noodle dishes, and overall creativity in each dish. To honor their innovations, I really went for it with this chilled cucumber salad.

I marinate the sliced cucumbers for this salad for 4 hours (or up to 2 days) to infuse deep layers of Taiwanese flavors into each bite. Then they’re drizzled in chili oil and topped with Din Tai Fung’s signature fresno chili pepper.

This appetizer is delicious, spicy, and unlike anything else!

What is a Din Tai Fung cucumber salad?

This recipe was inspired by the cucumber salad served at Din Tai Fung, a popular Taiwanese restaurant chain on the west coast. The original appetizer is served with a drizzle of sesame and chili oil and the signature fresco chili pepper on top. It’s super light and refreshing with just a hint of heat.

My copycat recipe is similar to the original and boasts big flavor! I marinated the cucumbers for 4 hours and finished it off with chili oil. In the end, this copycat recipe is just as good as the original and perfect for when you’re craving the classic dish without leaving your home.

Copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad Recipe (2)

How to make a copycat Din Tai Fung cucumber salad

Place the sliced cucumbers in a small bowl and sprinkle kosher salt over top. Toss to combine, then let them sit for 30 minutes. Rinse the salted cucumbers afterward.

Next, make the cucumber salad dressing by whisking rice vinegar, mirin, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and salt together in a bowl.

Should I peel the cucumber?

Din Tai Fung serves their cucumber salad with the peel still on, but you can always remove it if you prefer. I feel that the peel adds to the presentation and overall texture.

Copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad Recipe (3)

Can I make cucumber salad ahead of time?

This is the kind of recipe that you have to prepare ahead of time to achieve the perfect flavor. Toss the cucumbers in the dressing at least 4 hours before serving, or leave them to marinate for up to 2 days. This gives you plenty of time to prepare a flavorful main dish, like Chinese Roasted Chicken, for dinner.

You can also save time by assembling the cucumbers on the plate about an hour before serving. Drizzle the oil and add the peppers over top right before it’s time to eat.

What to serve with chilled cucumber salad:

Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Lamb Dumplings in Spicy Ginger Broth
Vegetarian Sushi Rolls // Spicy “Tuna” Rolls
Fried Rice
Sauteed Spinach
Thai Shrimp Salad

If you loved this Din Tai Fung cucumber recipe I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

More Asian-inspired recipes:

Din Tai Fung Green Beans
Dan Dan Noodles
Kani Salad
Hamachi Crudo
Mongolian Chicken
Bahn Mi Tacos
Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
Sesame Chicken Noodles
Easy Mongolian Beef

Plus, be sure to check out these 30+ BEST Asian Side Dishes.

Tip: Read all about the most popular types of cucumbers that you’ll find and how to use them. For this recipe, Persian Cucumbers are best!

Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad

This copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad is bursting with flavor. Beautifully marinated cucumbers drizzled in chili oil is an outstanding vegetarian appetizer you can enjoy for any special occasion!

Ingredients

8 Persian cucumbers (sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces)
1½ Tablespoons kosher salt

Dressing:

3 Tablespoons rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 ½ Tablespoons Mirin
1 ½ Tablespoons sesame oil
3 cloves garlic (grated or minced)
½ teaspoon kosher salt

To Serve:

1/2 Tablespoon chili oil (or more, to taste)
½ Tablespoon sesame oil
1 fresno chile pepper (minced (optional))

Instructions

Add sliced cucumber to a small bowl. Sprinkle with 1 ½ TBSP kosher salt and toss to combine. Let sit for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
After 30 minutes, rinse off the salt mixture and pat the cucumbers dry.
Meanwhile, make the dressing. In a small bowl whisk together the rice vinegar, mirin, sugar, sesame oil, garlic and salt. Mix well and set aside.
Toss the rinsed and dried cucumbers with the dressing and let marinate for a minimum of 4 hours, up to 2 days.
To serve: Taste for seasoning, and add additional salt if needed. Drizzle with chili oil and sprinkle with fresno chile and serve chilled.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Equipment

Knife

Small Bowl

Nutrition

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Copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of soy sauce to vinegar in din tai fung? ›

Din Tai Fung Dipping Sauce

Place a small amount of the fresh ginger in each dipping bowl. Add black vinegar and soy sauce to taste; the Din Tai Fung ratio is 3 parts black vinegar to 1 part soy sauce. Add chili oil for spice.

How do you make cucumber salad not watery? ›

The solution: The standard recommendation for ridding watery vegetable such as cucumbers of unwanted moisture is to salt them. The salt draws out the liquid from the vegetable because of the natural tendency of salt water solutions to equalize when mixed together.

Is cucumber enough for salad? ›

But for that you have to add the right ingredients that are full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. So an ideal salad will be a medley of salad leaves, broccoli, bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, seeds. But a typical desi quick fix salad for most of us is a bowl full of cucumber.

Discover More ›

What kind of vinegar does din tai fung use? ›

Gao Ji Wu Yin vinegars are in use by some of the oldest and most well known eateries in Taiwan. The beloved noodle shop Du Xiao Yue 台南度小月擔仔麵 in Tainan uses Wu Yin Vinegar in their Dan Zai Mian 擔仔麵, one of Taiwan's most iconic street foods. Din Tai Fung used it back in their mom-and-pop days on Yongkang street, too.

What happens when you mix soy sauce and vinegar? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

Mixing soy sauce and vinegar will result in a hom*ogenous mixture. In chemistry, a mixture is a combination of two or more different substances. There are two classifications of mixture: heterogeneous and hom*ogeneous. A hom*ogenous mixture is substances that dissolve completely when combined.

Learn More Now ›

What does a cucumber salad contain? ›

The perfect blend of vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper creates a light dressing for thinly sliced cucumbers to marinate in, infusing them with zingy flavor. With just 5 ingredients, the simplicity of this salad means even the pickiest of eaters will gobble this up.

Learn More Now ›

Why is my cucumber salad so watery? ›

When it comes to making the best cucumber salads, I find that unless you take the time to properly salt and drain the cukes, the end product is watery, limp, and less than tasty. This easy extra step makes extra crunchy slices, takes almost no effort at all, but gives a big payout in the crunch department.

View Details ›

What makes cucumbers taste better? ›

If you have a cucumber that's too bitter to eat, compost it. But, if the bitterness has concentrated near the stem and in the skin (where it's most likely to settle), peel the cucumber and slice off an inch or two near the stem. Many people sprinkle on salt or sugar to balance out the bitter taste.

What is the crispiest cucumber? ›

Kirby Cucumbers

They have a range of skin color from yellow to dark green. Kirbys are wonderfully crunchy for eating raw, but flavorful enough to be perfect for pickling too. Sometimes, they're even sold under the name "pickling cucumbers."

How to salt cucumbers before salad? ›

Wash the cucumbers, peel if desired, and cut into the shape you need. Place in a bowl and toss with enough kosher salt to coat evenly (approximately 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per pound). Transfer to a colander set over a bowl or sink and let sit for 30 minutes.

Learn More ›

What kind of cucumber is best for salads? ›

Persian Cucumbers

They have a mild flavor and thin skins, so they're great sliced or chopped for salads and snacking, or even tossed in the blender to make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita.

Get More Info Here ›

How many cucumbers do you need to make a salad? ›

Ingredients

1 to 2 large cucumbers (or 4 to 5 smaller cucumbers)
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, basil, or Thai basil (see Recipe Note)
2 to 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Explore More ›

What mixture is vinegar and soy sauce? ›

A vinegar mixed with soy sauce is a hom*ogeneous mixture because the mixture appears one or uniform.

What is the ratio of soy sauce to mirin? ›

Sake: soy sauce: mirin = 1: 1: 1

One part sake, one part soy sauce, and one part mirin will create a typical “Japanese” flavor. It's very easy to remember and usable with basically anything. If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed at first with all the different golden ratios, this is the one to remember.

Learn More ›

Do you eat dumplings with soy sauce or vinegar? ›

The dumplings' filling is itself flavorful and savory. You can enjoy them without any dipping sauce, like my kids do. My husband likes to eat them with Thai Sweet Chili sauce and I like light soy sauce. Some Chinese love to eat them with Chinese vinegar (black, not white like Western vinegar).

Can you replace vinegar with soy sauce? ›

You likely associate balsamic vinegar with the Mediterranean region where it's produced. So it may seem strange that soy sauce–a staple of Asian cuisine—is a viable alternative. But because of soy sauce's similar color and acidic flavor, in small amounts, it can stand in with a one-to-one ratio to balsamic vinegar.

Copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad Recipe (2024)

What is a ​​Din Tai Fung cucumber salad?

How to make ​​​​a copycat Din Tai Fung cucumber salad

Should I peel the cucumber?

Can I make cucumber salad ahead of time?

What to serve with chilled cucumber salad:

More Asian-inspired recipes:

Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

Dressing:

To Serve:

Instructions

Equipment

Nutrition

👩‍🍳 More copycat recipes

FAQs

What is the ratio of soy sauce to vinegar in din tai fung? ›

What kind of cucumber is best for salads? ›

What is a Din Tai Fung cucumber salad?

How to make a copycat Din Tai Fung cucumber salad