Spicy Szechuan Beef and Cucumber Salad is the perfect combination of bold, spicy flavors and refreshing, crisp vegetables. This dish offers the perfect balance of heat, tang, and crunch, making it a standout choice for anyone who loves a little kick in their meals. The tender strips of beef are cooked in a savory Szechuan sauce, while the cool, crunchy cucumbers offer a refreshing contrast, making it a delightful combination that works both as a main course or a side dish.
The Szechuan sauce is what makes this dish truly special. Made with ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and the signature Szechuan peppercorns, it delivers a complex, spicy, and slightly numbing heat that’s characteristic of this Chinese cuisine. The sauce is also slightly sweet, with a touch of vinegar to balance out the heat and create a well-rounded flavor profile. The beef is cooked quickly in the sauce, absorbing all these bold flavors and becoming tender and flavorful.
Cucumbers, sliced thinly, provide a cool contrast to the intense spice of the beef. Their crisp texture adds a refreshing element to the dish that balances the richness of the meat and the heat of the sauce. Fresh herbs like cilantro or mint can be added to brighten the dish even further, while a sprinkle of sesame seeds provides a bit of nuttiness and crunch.
The beauty of Spicy Szechuan Beef and Cucumber Salad is its versatility. It can be served over a bed of rice for a more substantial meal or enjoyed on its own for a lighter, refreshing option. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or as part of a larger spread when entertaining guests. The dish is easily customizable as well, add extra vegetables or adjust the spice level to suit your preference.
This salad is for those who love bold, exciting flavors and are looking for a dish that’s full of contrasts, from the spicy beef to the cool cucumber.
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak thinly sliced
- 2 cucumbers thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp Szechuan peppercorns crushed
- 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Green onions chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, Szechuan peppercorns, sriracha sauce, honey, and minced garlic.
- Place the sliced flank steak in a zip-top bag and pour the marinade over the steak. Close the bag and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best results.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers, chopped green onions, and chopped cilantro.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the marinated beef. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, or until the beef is cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- Pour the cooked beef over the cucumber mixture and toss to combine. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
- Serve the spicy Szechuan beef and cucumber salad chilled.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Too spicy for me. I think I’ll stick to plain beef next time.
Cucumbers and beef? Hmm… not my thing. I prefer my steak with potatoes.
I get that! Not everyone likes mixing flavors, but I think the cucumbers add a nice crunch with the beef. Maybe try it once?
Is this really a salad? Feels more like a meat dish with some greens. 🤔
I get what you mean! It does seem heavy on the meat, but I think it can still count as a salad. Just with a twist! 😊
Just okay. The flavors didn’t pop for me like I thought they would.
Honestly, I thought it was gonna be more flavorful. The cucumbers took over. Not impressed.
I get what you’re saying! The cucumbers can be a bit much! Maybe try adding more beef next time?
I had a similar dish at a restaurant, but this one is way better! Give it a try!
Wow, that sounds tasty! I love spicy food and can’t wait to try it myself! Thanks for sharing!
Yum! Perfect refreshing salad for summer. I will be making this very often. 💖
Not my fav. The Szechuan peppercorns were a bit too spicy and it kinda ruined the dish for me. Won’t be trying again.
I didn’t have Szechuan peppercorns, used regular ones and it was still tasty.
This is the best salad ever! So spicy and refreshing! 😍
This was fantastic! The flavors were just perfect. I loved the crunch from the cucumbers.
This recipe sounds complicated. I don’t know if I can manage this. Seems like too much for me.
I was skeptical about the combination of cucumbers and beef, but I tried it. The spice is intense though, might be too much for some folks.
Made this for dinner last night and it was a HIT! Everyone ate it all up. Thanks for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed it! It’s always a hit in my house too! 🍽️
I’m skeptical about the Szechuan peppercorns. Are they really that good? 🤔
So I made this after watching a youtube vid. The sauce is good, but I used chicken instead of beef and it was still tasty. Could’ve used more peanuts!
I was skeptical about cucumbers with beef, but it actually worked out!
I’m glad to hear it turned out well! I was worried about the combo too, but now I wanna try it!
Cucumbers with beef? Sounds weird but who am I to judge? I don’t know if I would like it.
This is a mess in my kitchen right now. Followed all steps, but somethin’ went wrong.
Don’t worry! Sometimes the recipe just doesn’t work out as planned. Maybe you missed a step or the stove was too hot? Keep trying!
I didn’t have Szechuan peppercorns, so I just used regular black pepper. Still turned out okay, but not as spicy. Next time I’ll try it as intended!
It’s too spicy for my taste. I could barely eat it. Maybe less Sriracha?
This recipe is amazing! The flavors were so vibrant and the beef was cooked perfectly. Definitely a keeper!
Super easy to make! My kids loved it and even asked for seconds. Definitely a keeper.
Amazing flavor! Will definitely make again. The honey adds a nice touch! 👍