Description
A fresh and healthy vegetarian Asian-inspired appetizer featuring hollowed English cucumbers stuffed with seasoned sushi rice and a colorful mix of crisp vegetables, garnished with sesame seeds and served with soy sauce or tamari and pickled ginger. This no-cook recipe is easy to prepare and perfect for light meals or party snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 large English cucumbers
- 1 medium carrot, cut into thin matchsticks
- 1 small red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced purple cabbage
Rice
- 1 cup cooked sushi rice, seasoned with rice vinegar
Seasonings and Garnishes
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- Pickled ginger, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the cucumbers: Cut off the ends of each cucumber. Using an apple corer or small spoon, carefully hollow out the center of each cucumber, leaving the walls about a quarter inch thick to create a hollow tube.
- Make the vegetable filling: In a small bowl, gently toss the carrot matchsticks, red bell pepper strips, purple cabbage slices, and avocado with the rice vinegar and sesame oil to lightly season and combine the flavors.
- Fill the cucumbers: Press a small amount of the seasoned sushi rice into the hollowed cucumbers to form a base layer. Then pack the vegetable mixture tightly into the center of each cucumber tube, filling them completely.
- Chill the stuffed cucumbers: Place the filled cucumbers in the refrigerator and chill for 10 minutes to help firm them up and allow flavors to meld.
- Slice and serve: Using a sharp knife, slice each stuffed cucumber into approximately one-inch rounds. Arrange the rounds on a serving platter, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve with soy sauce or tamari and pickled ginger for dipping.
Notes
- For extra flavor and a sushi-like texture, add thin strips of nori inside the cucumber before stuffing.
- Substitute avocado with cream cheese for a creamier texture in the filling.
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
