If you’re looking for a light, yet flavorful meal, a Hoisin Glazed Chicken and Cucumber Salad is the perfect option. This dish combines tender, savory chicken with a sweet and savory hoisin glaze, paired with the crisp, refreshing crunch of cucumbers and other fresh vegetables. The result is a vibrant salad that’s both satisfying and full of flavor, making it an excellent choice for a healthy lunch or dinner.
The chicken is marinated and coated in hoisin sauce, a rich and slightly sweet Chinese condiment made from soybeans, garlic, vinegar, and sugar. The glaze gives the chicken a shiny, flavorful coating as it’s grilled or pan-seared, locking in the juices and creating a tender, juicy bite. Once cooked, the chicken is sliced thin, allowing the hoisin glaze to shine and blend perfectly with the salad.
Cucumbers are the star vegetable in this salad, providing a cool, crisp texture that contrasts beautifully with the savory, slightly sweet chicken. Sliced thinly, they add a refreshing crunch and lightness to the dish. To complement the cucumbers, you can add thinly sliced carrots, bell peppers, and fresh herbs like cilantro or mint. These vegetables enhance the overall freshness of the salad while adding a burst of color.
The dressing is simple yet flavorful, made from a combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a touch of honey or sugar to balance the tanginess. This dressing brings together all the elements, complementing the sweetness of the hoisin glazed chicken and the freshness of the vegetables. It ties the salad together, giving each bite a savory, umami-rich flavor.
For an added touch, sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top, which provide a subtle nuttiness that enhances the flavors of the salad. You can also add a few chili flakes or a drizzle of sriracha for a bit of heat if you prefer.
This Hoisin Glazed Chicken and Cucumber Salad is a delightful, balanced meal. The combination of tender chicken, refreshing cucumbers, and a savory dressing makes for a satisfying, light dish that’s perfect for warm weather. It’s also a great option if you’re looking to enjoy a meal that’s both healthy and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 cucumbers thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 Green onions sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a small bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then brush with the hoisin glaze.
- Place the chicken on a baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the cucumber salad. In a bowl, combine sliced cucumbers, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, green onions, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Slice the chicken and serve with the cucumber salad.
- Enjoy!
Easy to make and full of flavor! Even my picky kid liked it. Thumbs up from me!
Just okay, needs something. Might add some chili flakes for kick next time. 😒
Adding chili flakes sounds like a great idea! I think it will really elevate the flavors. 😃
Eh, not for me. I think the chicken was a bit dry… maybe bake it for less time next time?
This dish was amazing! The hoisin glaze added such a unique flavor. I’m making it again next week!
I totally agree! That hoisin glaze is the bomb! Can’t wait to try it again myself.
Are you sure this is the best? I mean, hoisin sauce ain’t for everyone. What if someone doesn’t like sweet flavors?
Wow, my kids actually ate the cucumbers! This recipe is a win! 🙂
That’s awesome! Getting kids to eat veggies is a real victory! 😄
I don’t like cilantro, can I leave it out? Will it still taste good? 🤷
Super easy and quick! My kids loved it. The salad was a nice touch! A+ recipe from me!
Hoisin sauce? What even is that? Didn’t have any so I swapped it with BBQ sauce. Still tasted fine, lol.
Tried this recipe but the chicken didn’t turn out great. I think I overcooked it… had to drown it in sauce to save it.
Chicken, sauce, cucumbers – what’s not to like? Delish! Also, quick prep is a bonus.
Tried this and it was okay. The sauce was really sweet for my taste, maybe less honey next time?
Cucumber salad was refreshing! I add some extra mint to it and it was yum! 😋
Wow, extra mint sounds like a great idea! I never thought of that. Can’t wait to try it!
This recipe is a game changer! The hoisin glaze makes the chicken sooo flavorful. Will definitely make this again!
I tried this recipe yesterday, and it did taste great! But my chicken turned out a bit dry. Maybe I cooked it too long? Anyone else had this issue?
Delicious! But I omitted the sugar from the salad. Didn’t need it. Next time I might add a dash of chili.
I feel like this is too many steps for chicken. Can’t I just grill it? 🤔
Hoisin sauce? Sounds fancy. I just used BBQ sauce lol. Still turned out okay.
Why use hoisin when BBQ is tastier? I bet your chicken was just as good.
BBQ sauce? That’s interesting! I think hoisin gives it a different flavor tho. Wouldn’t hurt to try it next time!
Not bad, but I think I put too much vinegar in the salad. A bit overpowering. Maybe 1/4 cup instead of 1/4 cup?!
I think 1/4 cup is too much for rice vinegar, but it really depends on your taste. Maybe try a little less next time!
Too much vinegar?! It’s all about balance, just fix it with some sugar or more cucumbers! 🤷♂️
Chicken good. Cukes not good.
The ingredients are too fancy for my budget. Can I just use ketchup instead of hoisin?
Hoisin is sweet and tangy, ketchup is more like…just sweet. You might wanna try another sauce if you can. But hey, if it saves you money, do what you gotta do!
Using ketchup instead of hoisin? That’s different! Might change the whole flavor, but if it works for you, go for it!
Uh, do you really need all that vinegar? It was a bit too tangy for my taste. Next time, I’m cutting it down.
This was absolutely delicious! The hoisin glaze was a game changer. Definitely making this again!