Refreshing cucumber Relish
This Thai cucumber relish is the perfect contrast to rich, spicy dishes. It’s quick to make and endlessly versatile — serve it with fish cakes, grilled Gai Yang, corn fritters or spring rolls.
Servings: 6
Calories: 151kcal
Equipment
- 1 knife Your favourite chef's knife will do
- 1 chopping board
- 1 saucepan
- 1 small serving bowl
Ingredients
- 330 ml vinegar coconut vinegar is ideal, but white vinegar works too
- 150 ml water
- 5 g coriander root
- 115 g palm sugar
- 115 g white sugar
- 10 ml fish sauce
- 1 small cucumber,diced
- 1 Long red chilli, julienned
- 1 kaffir lime leaf, finely shredded
Instructions
- Assemble all ingreients
- Add the palm sugar and white sugar, stirring until fully dissolved.
- Continue simmering until the liquid reduces by about half, forming a light syrup. The flavor should be a balance of sweet and sour.
- Stir in the fish sauce, then strain the mixture into a clean container.
- Allow to cool
- Add the diced cucumber, julienned chilli, and shredded kaffir lime leaf.
- For extra flavor and texture, garnish with julienned ginger and roasted peanuts before serving.
Notes
- Cucumber prep: Deseed the cucumber before dicing to keep the relish crunchy and prevent excess liquid.
- Vinegar choice: Coconut vinegar gives a smooth, slightly fruity taste, while white vinegar adds a sharper punch.
- Palm sugar swap: Light brown sugar works well if palm sugar isn’t available.
- Chilli heat: Adjust to taste—use more for spice, or just a little for color.
- Herbal lift: Kaffir lime leaf adds citrusy fragrance; lime zest is a good substitute.
- Make ahead: Prepare the syrup up to a week in advance and refrigerate. Add cucumber and herbs fresh before serving.
- Texture twist: Add roasted peanuts or fried shallots just before serving for crunch.
- Serving ideas: Ideal with Thai fish cakes, corn fritters, spring rolls, grilled meats, or as a salad dressing.
Nutrition
Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.1mg