Cucumber and noodle sunomono salad recipe (Low Fat, Vegan) - Updated recipe! * Plant Based Recipes: Easy Oil Free Vegan Recipes (2024)

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This magnificent side-dish (or meal-sized if you believe in yourself) is cold, refreshing, and of course entirely plant-based. A sunomono salad roughly translates to Japanese Vinegar Salad (or, “vinegared” food)- it’s kind of like sweetened vinegar soup, in a way, since the food is often in a small to large amount of “broth”. It’s delicious.

Sunomono salad is often available in Japanese sushi restaurants as an appetizer or side dish, and what it contains will depend on what region you are in. In Canada it contains rice noodles, cucumber, and possibly some other form of seafood topping (like octopus or shrimp, if you’re not eating it vegan). In the USA, Sunomono salad often omits the noodles and will be cucumbers and optionally some seafood on top. So it’s naturally vegan as long as you do the “plain” non-seafood version of the salad.

It’s actually one of my favorite things in a sushi restaurant, before and after my vegan transition. I’ve never cared for the seafood, always after those lovely pickled noodles. Here are a couple I’ve had at local restaurants:

And after I made this recipe, putting my own to shame – this! Mad props to the chef:

Sunomono salad is very easy to make; however, I find that I am always working on it to adjust the broth. It’s subtle, but noticeable because it’s the critical element of the entire recipe. Every restaurant is slightly different, sometimes very much so. So do play around when you make this to suit it to your own taste. Often the sugar and citrus elements are what is different. The tamari/soy sauce is optional and often not used – I leave this up to you. Try it both ways!

The noodles are of great importance too. There are many, many varieties of rice noodles available. I prefer to use the thicker rice stick noodles in this dish, although you will find a variety of types used between restaurants (in Canada, at least). Most restaurants will vary what kind they use, and what you prefer will be unique. So again, play around with this and figure out what you prefer. It will make a big difference in the result! I recently found sunomono salad noodles (specifically sold as such, apparently) in a local asian market.

Cucumber and noodle sunomono salad recipe (Low Fat, Vegan) - Updated recipe! * Plant Based Recipes: Easy Oil Free Vegan Recipes (2)

Important note – if you are concerned about the sugar, do remember you do not drink the broth so your actual consumption of this will be less than the amount in the nutritional value.

Cucumber and noodle sunomono salad recipe (Low Fat, Vegan) - Updated recipe! * Plant Based Recipes: Easy Oil Free Vegan Recipes (3)

Sunomono Salad (Low Fat, Vegan)

A refreshing, cool salad that's perfect for summer. Or any time of the year, really! This recipe has been updated and improved (January 2019!)

4.62 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Asian, Japanese

Keyword: cucumber, rice noodles, rice vinegar, sunomono

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Refrigerate: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 110kcal

Author: Jen deHaan

Ingredients

Broth

  • 2 cups rice vinegar Plain/unseasoned
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup sugar Your choice, to taste. Can sub liquid stevia if desired.
  • 1 tsp soy sauce Optional. Sub tamari or coconut aminos.
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice Optional.

Topping

Instructions

  • Slice the cucumbers. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt (optional). Set aside.

  • Boil water, and pour 1/2 cup into a bowl, add the sugar, and whisk until dissolved. Add remaining broth ingredients in large bowl and combine.

  • Rinse cucumbers, then add to broth to marinate.

  • Cook the noodles according to package direction. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.

  • Drain noodles and rinse well.

  • Add the noodles to the broth, add additional seasoned vinegar if desired, and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

  • Make and add additional broth if desired. The kind of noodles you use and length of chilling can impact how much broth you will need (if a small amount is needed, I'll often just add a bit of water).

Notes

Note that this is a large serving of this dish. For a side dish, this should make about 8 servings.

Nutrition Facts

Sunomono Salad (Low Fat, Vegan)

Amount per Serving

Calories

110

% Daily Value*

Fat

g

%

Trans Fat

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

g

Monounsaturated Fat

g

Cholesterol

mg

%

Sodium

263

mg

11

%

Potassium

17

mg

%

Carbohydrates

23

g

8

%

Fiber

g

%

Sugar

8

g

9

%

Protein

g

%

Vitamin A

IU

%

Vitamin C

2.3

mg

3

%

Calcium

27

mg

3

%

Iron

mg

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe? Customized it?Let us know how it was in the comments!

Alterations and substitutes

If you are not keen on the noodles, make this an entirely vegetable dish. Add some slivered onions to your cucumbers, or get creative with some other non-traditional options (such as perhaps some avocado? Pickled avocado is a thing!)

[amzn]

The amount of sweetness varies quite a bit between restaurants. I always enjoy a sweet broth the most, however I have skewed towards less sweetness in this recipe. Play with your ratios to taste. (And as above, remember you are not eating all the broth – some will be left in the bowl – so your actual value will be less).

I prefer mine with a hint of lemon. The lemon juice in this recipe can be omitted entirely (it often isn’t included, I just always enjoy lemon when it’s served this way in a restaurant so I added it to the recipe), or you might just want to serve it with a slice of lemon for garnish.

Check out these recipes for some other takes on sunomono salad (note that this is not a vegan resource, so you will come across seafood and so on).

You may want to adjust the sweetness, and remember the amount noted in the recipe will vary depending on what sweetener you use in the sunomono salad.

Have you had sunomono salad? What ingredients do you enjoy in it?

[sub]

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  • Author
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Jen deHaan

Owner at Plant Based Recipe

Jen is a plant-based nutrition enthusiast and vegan living in British Columbia, Canada. She has over 20 years experience in software, graphics, and art, including many years in Silicon Valley corporations. Jen completed the Developing Healthy Communities graduate program at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Jen really likes dogs and dancing too.

Latest posts by Jen deHaan (see all)

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About Post Author

Jen deHaan

Jen is a plant-based nutrition enthusiast and vegan living in British Columbia, Canada. She has over 20 years experience in software, graphics, and art, including many years in Silicon Valley corporations. Jen completed the Developing Healthy Communities graduate program at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Jen really likes dogs and dancing too.

See author's posts

About Jen deHaan

Jen is a plant-based nutrition enthusiast and vegan living in British Columbia, Canada. She has over 20 years experience in software, graphics, and art, including many years in Silicon Valley corporations. Jen completed the Developing Healthy Communities graduate program at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Jen really likes dogs and dancing too.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ichi Tokyo

    Cucumber and noodle sunomono salad recipe (Low Fat, Vegan) - Updated recipe! * Plant Based Recipes: Easy Oil Free Vegan Recipes (14)
    Looks delish. Can’t Wait to make it . 🙂

    Reply

  2. Fuji Sushi

    Cucumber and noodle sunomono salad recipe (Low Fat, Vegan) - Updated recipe! * Plant Based Recipes: Easy Oil Free Vegan Recipes (15)
    Thanks for sharing – wonderful write up..

    Reply

  3. SunomonoFanatic

    Cucumber and noodle sunomono salad recipe (Low Fat, Vegan) - Updated recipe! * Plant Based Recipes: Easy Oil Free Vegan Recipes (16)
    So darn delicious – I made it and it was fantastic! Thank you for sharing

    Reply

    • Jen @ Plant Based Recipe

      Thank you for letting us know! I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply

  4. vancouvergal

    Is this like the sunomono in Vancouver? I’m having such a hard time finding a recipe for sunomono found in japanese restaurants here, it seems to be made differently every where else in the world.

    Reply

    • Jen (PlantBasedRecipe.com)

      Yep that was the inspiration! We always ate sunomono in Vancouver in our 20s and missed it immensely moving away. Did my best to replicate.

      Reply

  5. ET

    Could I substitute sugar with mirin ? What ratio should it be ?

    Reply

  6. Laurie Bailey

    Can’t wait to try it! How long will it keep in the fridge?

    Reply

    • Jen @ PlantBasedRecipe

      Because of the noodles, I’d try to eat it pretty quick – within the next day or so.

      Reply

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Cucumber and noodle sunomono salad recipe (Low Fat, Vegan) - Updated recipe! * Plant Based Recipes: Easy Oil Free Vegan Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are sunomono noodles made of? ›

Sunomono is a light and refreshing Japanese Cucumber Salad featuring thinly sliced cucumbers, wakame and vermicelli noodles tossed in a sweet rice vinegar dressing. It's the perfect easy and healthy summer side dish to accompany any meal!

What is the meaning of Sunomono? ›

There are two terms generally used for salads in Japanese: sunomono, which means “vinegared things,” and aemono, which translates to “combined things.” Sunomono typically features a thin, rice vinegar- or lemon-based dressing, while aemono dressings are often thicker and incorporate pureed tofu, miso, and/or egg yolk.

What is cucumber salad made of? ›

Crisp and creamy cucumber salad makes the perfect summer side. This old-fashioned recipe combines thinly sliced sweet onions, cucumbers, dill, garlic, and mayo for an unbelievably delicious make-ahead dish. Try your hand at MHudson's family recipe for the tastiest cucumber salad ever.

Are sunomono salad good for you? ›

Sunomono Salad with Kelp for Thyroid Support

A quick treat for a healthy thyroid, this cucumber and seaweed (kelp) salad is loaded with iodine and selenium, the essentials for a balanced hormone production in thyroid.

When should I eat sunomono? ›

Sunomono (酢の物) refers to vinegar-based dishes, and they are commonly served as a side dish to the main meal. These light refreshing vinegar salads are a great start to any meal as the sourness from the vinegar helps whet your appetite.

What is a substitute for Japanese cucumbers? ›

If you can't find Japanese cucumbers, use cucumbers with few seeds and a firm texture. A close substitute is Persian cucumbers or English cucumbers. Cut in half lengthwise with a knife and scoop out the seeds.

How many calories in a bowl of cucumber salad? ›

There are 52 calories in 1 cup of Cucumber Salad with Vinegar. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

What is Japanese for nine cucumbers? ›

Answer The Japanese for 'nine cucumbers' is therefore kyuri kyuhon.

What is the difference between Tsukemono and Sunomono? ›

Sunomono refers to specifically quick pickled cucumbers. Therefore, sunomono is a type of tsukemono.

What is Shoku in Japan? ›

A stand for placing bonsai or flower vases is called a “shoku” in Japanese. A flat board to place bonsai is called jiita. It is a manner to place bonsai on either a shoku or jiita. In Japanese style houses, bonsai decorates an alcove known as Tokonoma, along with a wall scroll.

Can I eat cucumber salad everyday? ›

Cucumbers contain upto 96% water content, which can keep you hydrated and meet daily needs. Getting enough water through fruits and vegetables ensures that cells get proper nutrition, you fight off exhaustion and stay energized through the day. Hence, cucumbers make for a good snacking option as well. Yes!

How do you keep cucumbers crisp in cucumber salad? ›

Salt the slices first. No matter the salad recipe you're making, salt the cut-up cucumber beforehand. The extra step allows them to release some of their water — keeping them extra crisp even when they get tossed with the dressing.

Why do you salt cucumbers before salad? ›

According to America's Test Kitchen, "Salting these watery vegetables draws out extra water and flavor molecules. So don't skip this step—it allows more flavor to soak in and helps the veggies stand up to more heat and heavier dressings."

What are Dangmyeon noodles made of? ›

In Korean cuisine, glass noodles are usually made from sweet potato starch and are called dangmyeon (Hangul: 당면; Hanja: 唐麵; literally "Tang noodles"; also spelled dang myun, dangmyun, tang myun, or tangmyun).

What are cellophane noodles made from? ›

Cellophane noodles, also known as Chinese vermicelli, bean threads, bean thread noodles, crystal noodles, or glass noodles, are a type of transparent noodle made from starch (such as mung bean starch, yam, potato starch, cassava or canna starch), and water.

What are miso noodles made of? ›

Miso is a fermented paste made from soybeans and koji (Aspergillus oryzae) - a mold. It's a pantry staple in many Japanese households to make famous miso dishes like miso soup, Nobu's famous Miso Black cod, miso sesame noodles, and this dish of course.

What is Korean black bean noodles made of? ›

Jajangmyeon uses thick, hand-made or machine-pulled noodles made from wheat flour, salt, baking soda, and water.

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