Mango Cucumber Sesame Grain Salad (Printable Version)
Sweet mango meets crisp cucumber and nutty grains in a tangy sesame dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa (uncooked) or bulgur or farro
02 - 2 cups water
→ Produce
03 - 1 large ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and diced
04 - 1 large cucumber, diced
05 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
08 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
10 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
11 - 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
12 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
→ Toppings
13 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (white or black)
14 - 1/4 cup roasted cashews or peanuts, roughly chopped (optional)
# How To Make:
01 - Rinse the grains under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine the grains and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender and water is absorbed (about 15-20 minutes for quinoa; adjust for other grains). Fluff with a fork and let cool to room temperature.
02 - While the grains cool, prepare the mango, cucumber, scallions, and cilantro.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, ginger, and garlic to make the dressing.
04 - In a large bowl, combine the cooled grains, mango, cucumber, scallions, and cilantro. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
05 - Top with toasted sesame seeds and optional roasted nuts just before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The way the sweet mango balances against the tangy rice vinegar creates this incredible bright flavor profile that wakes up your whole palate
- You can make a huge batch on Sunday and it actually gets better after a day in the fridge, making lazy weekday lunches effortless
02 -
- Letting the grains cool completely before mixing with the vegetables prevents them from becoming mushy and wilted
- The dressing tastes stronger when you first make it, so give it ten minutes to mellow before deciding to add more salt
03 -
- Toasting your own sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes transforms their flavor completely
- If your mango is not quite ripe enough, let it sit on the counter for a day or two before making this salad