Tiger Salad Recipe

Hi, I’m Sam from dishfoody.com, where bold Asian flavors meet fresh crunch. Tiger Salad (Lao Hu Cai) is a vibrant Northern Chinese dish bursting with cilantro, crisp cucumber, spicy green chiles, and green onions tossed in a tangy sesame-soy vinaigrette. Perfect as a cooling side for grilled meats, spicy noodles, or summer barbecues.

No cooking required, vegan, and ready in 10 minutes with striking “tiger stripe” colors from the green ingredients.

Why This Recipe Works

• Massive amount of cilantro delivers the signature pungent “tiger bite”
• Cucumber provides refreshing crunch against spicy chiles
• Balanced dressing hits sweet, sour, salty, and nutty notes perfectly
• Quick chopping creates restaurant-quality texture
• Pairs with rich mains to cut through heaviness

Ingredients & Prep

• 2 cups chopped cilantro (stems and leaves)
• 1 English cucumber, cut into thin matchsticks
• 3-4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1-2 green chiles or jalapeños, thinly sliced (seeds removed for mild)
• For Dressing: 1½ tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1½ teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon soy sauce or tamari
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Chop cilantro into 1-inch pieces, slice cucumber into thin matchsticks, thinly slice green onions and chiles.
2. In a small bowl, whisk rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, and salt until sugar dissolves.
3. In a large bowl, combine cilantro, cucumber, green onions, and chiles.
4. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss gently to coat evenly.
5. Serve immediately for maximum crunch.

Flavor Variations

Storage Tips

Best served fresh. If making ahead, store undressed vegetables in fridge up to 4 hours; toss with dressing just before serving to maintain crunch.

FAQs

Too much cilantro? Start with half and adjust; parsley works but loses bold flavor.
Spice level? Remove chile seeds or use milder peppers like Anaheim.
Gluten-free? Use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Conclusion

Tiger Salad delivers ferocious flavor and refreshing crunch that’s perfect alongside rich Asian mains. Bold, herbaceous, and effortlessly impressive. Find more vibrant sides at dishfoody.com.

Tiger Salad Recipe

Print Recipe

Tiger Salad is a bold Northern Chinese dish featuring crisp cucumber, cilantro, green onions, and chiles tossed in a sesame-soy vinaigrette – perfect refreshing side with spicy mains.

• Author: ssam
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins
• Total Time: 15 mins
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Chinese
• Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 English cucumber, cut into thin matchsticks
• 1 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1–2 Anaheim or jalapeño chiles, thinly sliced
• 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced (optional)
• Dressing:
• 1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp soy sauce or tamari
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• Garnish: roasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

• 1. Prepare vegetables: cut cucumber into thin matchsticks or slices, slice green onions and chiles thinly, chop cilantro coarsely, slice celery if using. Combine in large bowl.
• 2. Whisk together rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, and salt until sugar dissolves.
• 3. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss gently to coat evenly.
• 4. Top with chopped peanuts and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or chill briefly.

Notes

• Anaheim chiles milder than jalapeños – adjust heat to taste.
• Cucumber matchsticks stay crisper than slices.
• Xinjiang version uses tomatoes + red onion instead.
• Perfect BBQ or hot pot accompaniment.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cup
• Calories: 45
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 320mg
• Fat: 2g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 6g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 1g
• Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: tiger salad, lao hu cai, chinese cucumber salad, cilantro chili salad