California Roll Cucumber Salad hops on the cucumber salad pattern, however provides kani and crispy rice for sushi-inspired crunch in each chunk.

California Cucumber Roll Salad
This California Roll Cucumber Salad takes all of the flavors of your favourite sushi roll—kani, creamy avocado, scallions, and a drizzle of soy sauce—and tosses them with crisp cucumber ribbons for a refreshing twist. A bit chili crisp provides warmth, whereas crunchy rice brings the feel you crave, making it hearty sufficient for a essential dish salad. For those who’re a cucumber lover, you’ll additionally take pleasure in my Creamy Cucumber Salad, and when you’re all about kani, don’t miss my Crab Salad Recipe for an additional fast, protein-packed lunch thought.
Components You’ll Want
Listed here are the elements for this simple California roll cucumber salad. See the recipe card under for the precise measurements.
- Chili Crisp is a spicy Asian condiment, consisting of oil infused with chiles and different crunchy aromatics. This S&B Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil is one in every of my new favorites. Or make your personal, see my Asian Hen Salad for chili crisp recipe.
- Soy Sauce provides the rice a salty, umami taste.
- Rice: Use any sort of precooked white or brown rice. I’ve Instantaneous Pot Jasmine Rice, Instantaneous Pot Brown Rice, and Stovetop Brown Rice directions. It’s also possible to use microwavable frozen rice.
- Cucumber Salad Dressing: Chili crisp, soy sauce, grated ginger, rice vinegar (Seasoned is best, however you should utilize unseasoned vinegar, too.)
- English Cucumbers have a skinny pores and skin, so that they don’t have to be peeled, however you possibly can if you wish to. Slice the cucumber into skinny half-moons.
- Scallions for a contemporary, gentle onion taste
- Avocado for wholesome fats and a creamy texture
- Kani: Attempt to discover the surimi-style kani, which shreds, somewhat than the type that is available in thick chunks.
Methods to Make A California Roll Cucumber Salad
The air fryer is a fast and straightforward technique to get the rice crispy, however when you don’t have one, you possibly can bake it within the oven. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.


- Make Crispy Rice: Combine the rice with chili crisp and soy sauce. Line your air fryer with perforated parchment paper and air fry at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes. For those who don’t have an air fryer, bake it at 400°F for 25 minutes.
- Make the Cucumber Salad: Put the remaining chili crisp and soy sauce, ginger, and rice vinegar in a big bowl. Then, stir within the greens and kani.
- Methods to Serve: Prime with crispy rice and furikaki or sesame seeds.


Ideas & Variations
- Use a mandolin for fast slicing: It provides you even, skinny cucumber slices in seconds. Put on a cut-proof glove to guard your fingers!
- Use what you will have: Backyard cucumbers work nice—simply peel and slice them skinny.
- Swap the kani: Use lump crab meat or cooked shrimp for a twist.
- Hold it gluten-free: Swap soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos and a distinct protein since kani isn’t usually gluten-free.
- Modify the warmth: Skip the chili crisp when you’re spice-sensitive or add additional when you like it scorching.
- Make it creamy: Drizzle with spicy mayo (or combine mayo and sriracha) earlier than serving.
- Bulk it up: Add additional greens, like edamame, shredded carrots, or diced bell peppers.
- Skip the crunch: Omit the rice if you wish to preserve it low-carb.
- Make it meal-prep pleasant: Serve over rice to make it extra filling.

Storage
- Refrigerate: This salad is greatest eaten after getting ready it as a result of the cucumbers can develop into soggy, and the avocado will brown. Nevertheless, you possibly can retailer the salad and crispy rice in separate containers for as much as 2 days.
- Methods to Reheat: Air fry the rice at 350°F for about 5 minutes till heat and crispy. Add contemporary avocado to the salad, and prime with crispy rice.
FAQ
Kani is flake-style imitation crab, which primarily consists of Alaskan pollock.
Kani is rather more reasonably priced than contemporary lump crab, however actual crab meat can be scrumptious on this salad.

Extra Sushi-Impressed Recipes You’ll Love
For extra dinner concepts, try these 5 scrumptious sushi-inspired recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
Yield: servings
Serving Measurement: 2 beneficiant cups
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Mix rice with 1 teaspoon chili crisp and 1 teaspoon soy sauce.
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Line an air fryer basket, or sheet tray, with parchment paper. Air fry the rice at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. If baking, bake at 400°F for 25 minutes, stirring midway.
Whereas the rice crisps, combine salad:
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Within the backside of a big bowl mix remaining 1/2 tablespoon chili crisp, remaining 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce, ginger and rice vinegar. Add cucumber, scallion, avocado & kani. Stir.
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Prime with crispy rice.
Final Step:
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- Makes about 4 ¼ cups.
- Attempt to discover the surimi type kani, that shreds, somewhat than the thick chunks.
Serving: 2 beneficiant cups, Energy: 317 kcal, Carbohydrates: 41 g, Protein: 10 g, Fats: 13.5 g, Saturated Fats: 2 g, Ldl cholesterol: 10 mg, Sodium: 1062 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 9 g