Ensaladang Pipino is a cucumber salad dressed with a simple Filipino-style vinaigrette. It's easy, budget-friendly, and a tasty side dish for grilled or fried fish and meat.
As we are in the smack of grilling season, I've kept a steady supply of this Filipino-style cucumber salad in the refrigerator. It's easy to assemble, and its crisp texture and refreshing taste are always a treat.
If you're looking for the perfect side dish for your summer cookouts and family dinners, this ensaladang pipino is for you! It's a tasty accompaniment to your favorite Filipino pork barbecue, inihaw na pusit, or just about any meal you want a pop of freshness and crunch.
What you'll need
- Cucumbers- I used regular slicing cucumbers for the recipe as it's more affordable and readily available in the Philippines. Some of my favorite cukes are Persian or English cucumbers, which have nice, thin skins that are mostly seedless and don't have to be peeled.
- Red onions- they add a pop of color, but any type of onion you have on hand will work.
- Thai chili peppers- bring a delicious kick of heat; omit them for a kid-friendly version.
- Vinegar- I like to use cane vinegar (Datu Puti), but feel free to experiment with various types of vinegar, such as distilled white, balsamic, red or white wine, rice wine, or apple cider.
- Fish sauce- for umami flavor
- Sesame oil- I love the Asian touch of flavor and aroma; you can substitute a more neutral-tasting oil such as canola or olive oil
- Sugar- balances the tangy flavors with a hint of sweetness
- Salt and pepper- season to taste
Helpful tips
- Make the salad more colorful and nutrition-packed by adding tomato slices or bell pepper strips.
- For uniform thickness, use a mandolin to slice the cucumbers.
Cucumbers are usually covered in edible wax to prevent moisture loss during transportation. If you're keeping the skin on, follow the steps below on how to remove the wax coating if you like.
How to remove wax from cucumbers
- Rinse the cucumbers under cold water.
- Soak them in a bowl of equal parts water and vinegar for about one to two minutes.
- Rub with a clean kitchen or paper towel to remove the wax.
- Rinse under cold water to remove any remaining wax.
- Use immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in a cucumber salad?
The caloric content of a cucumber salad depends on the type and amount of dressing used. In this particular recipe, the estimated calories are 60 KCAL per serving.
Are cucumbers and vinegar good for weight loss?
Weight management involves various factors, such as physical activity and healthy eating. Cucumbers and vinegar-based dressing can be a part of a nutritious diet. The fruit is low in calories but has a high water and fiber content that can keep you full and satisfied longer.
Should you peel the skin off a cucumber?
Some cucumbers have thin skins while others have thick, waxy skins. You can keep the skin on, peel a few strips around the cucumber, or peel completely. I personally like to keep the skin on for extra crunch and fiber.
Storage instructions
- Cucumbers have a high water content and will dispel a lot of liquid once mixed with the dressing. Store the vegetables and dressing separately and toss together when ready to serve. Enjoy immediately!
- For longer storage, salt the cucumbers for a few minutes and squeeze the excess liquid before tossing them with the remaining ingredients.
Ingredients
- ½ cup vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Thai chili pepper, minced
- ½ teaspoon peppercorns, freshly cracked
- 2 large cucumbers, washed and sliced thinly
- 1 small red onion, peeled and sliced thinly
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, chilis, sugar, salt and peppercorns. Whisk together until sugar is dissolved.
- In a large bowl, combine cucumber and onions.
- Add vinegar mixture and toss gently.
- Chill in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- For uniform thickness, use a mandolin to slice.
- Some types of cucumber have thin skins while others have thick, waxy skins. Depending on your preference and the variety of cukes you use, you can keep the skin on, peel a few strips around the cucumber, or peel completely.
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
ANNA says
Do you use Patis Fish Sauce or Squid Thai Fish Sauce?
Jon Sanchez says
Galing talaga ni Miss LM
Ginagawa din ito ng Nanay ko lalo na kung prito ang ulam. Mayroon pa iba tawag dito -- Any one? Sana ay may maka-alala 🙂
Thanks
Jon
Monica says
This reminds me of my childhood. We used to have it more simply though with just vinegar, salt and lots of cracked pepper. But this one with the proper vinaigrette dressing is delicious! Thank you for this, will be making this again.
Lalaine Manalo says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Denise says
Was looking for a salad to go with some beef empanadas I purchased from a Filipino bakery. This was perfect! So delicious. I fried some lumpia and sliced mango to round out our meal. Yummm-eee!
Lalaine Manalo says
Thanks for the 5-stars! That sounds like a delicious meal. Beef empanadas yum!
Arman says
This is perfect I have a cucumber from a co-workers garden.
Lalaine Manalo says
Enjoy!
Ja says
What can you use as alternative for sesame oil?
Lalaine Manalo says
You can use olive oil or vegetable oil 🙂
Harvey says
Thanks for the recipe! Made this and the dipping sauce from your Crispy Pata recipe for Halloween Kamayan. Hubby's family loved both. Salamat po!
Lalaine says
You're welcome 🙂
SP says
Such a great recipe
Lalaine says
Thank you, I am glad you liked it 🙂
ging says
Wow. Great recipe!! Reminds me of my childhood.
Lalaine says
Thanks, Ging.
yeyewynes says
I just noticed that there is no salt in the list of ingredients and the fish sauce was listed twice. But the salt was mentioned in the instructions.
Lalaine says
Fixed it. 🙂 Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
bea says
love this site! i am so happy i found this... love you guys!
Lalaine says
Thanks, Bea. It's comments like this that makes upkeep of this site so much fun. 🙂