Easy California Roll Cucumber Salad is a vibrant, refreshing twist on the beloved California roll sushi. Combining crunchy cucumbers, creamy avocado, and savory imitation crab meat, this dish captures the essence of sushi without the need for rolling or raw fish. A light, tangy-sweet dressing brings all the elements together for a perfect side dish on warm days, ideal for sushi nights, potlucks, or healthy lunches. It’s quick to prepare, packed with flavor, and always a hit at the table.
Ingredients
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2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
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1 cup imitation crab meat, shredded
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1 ripe avocado, diced
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2 tablespoons rice vinegar
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1 tablespoon soy sauce
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1 teaspoon sesame oil
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1 teaspoon sugar
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1 tablespoon mayonnaise
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1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
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2 green onions, thinly sliced
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Optional: Pickled ginger, for garnish
Directions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers, shredded imitation crab meat, and diced avocado.
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In a separate small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and mayonnaise until smooth and well blended.
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Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
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Top with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
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Chill the salad in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
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Garnish with pickled ginger if desired and serve cold.
Nutritional Information (per serving, approx.):
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Calories: 180 kcal
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Total Fat: 10 g
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Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
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Cholesterol: 15 mg
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Sodium: 420 mg
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Total Carbohydrates: 18 g
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Dietary Fiber: 5 g
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Sugars: 6 g
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Protein: 6 g
Why This Salad Is a Perfect Choice
This salad isn’t just about convenience or flavor—it’s also an incredibly versatile dish that works for a variety of occasions. It can be served as a side dish at a summer barbecue, as a light lunch on a hot day, or even as part of a themed sushi night at home. Because it doesn’t contain raw fish or rice, it’s quicker to prepare and more suitable for meal prepping or packing into lunches.
It’s also highly customizable. Don’t like imitation crab? Swap it out for real crab meat, cooked shrimp, or tofu for a vegetarian twist. Want more crunch? Add julienned carrots or daikon radish. Craving a little spice? A few drops of sriracha or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes in the dressing can turn up the heat. The base recipe is a blank canvas for your creativity while still maintaining its core identity.
A Healthy, Nutrient-Packed Option
Beyond taste and convenience, this salad offers several nutritional benefits. Cucumbers are low in calories and high in water content, making them excellent for hydration and digestion. Avocados are rich in healthy fats, particularly monounsaturated fats that support heart health. They also contain fiber, potassium, and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin.
Imitation crab meat, while processed, is a good source of protein and contains omega-3 fatty acids, especially when made from Alaskan pollock. The dressing uses modest amounts of oil and mayonnaise, keeping the overall fat content reasonable. Sesame seeds and green onions add small but meaningful boosts of nutrients such as vitamin K, iron, and B vitamins.
For those watching their calorie intake or looking to follow a low-carb or gluten-free diet, this salad can be adapted easily. Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari, opt for a lighter dressing base with plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo, or include more fiber-rich veggies to enhance satiety.
Serving Ideas and Pairings
The Easy California Roll Cucumber Salad can hold its own as a standalone dish but also pairs beautifully with a variety of meals:
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Sushi Night Side Dish: Serve it alongside homemade sushi rolls, edamame, miso soup, and seaweed salad for a complete Japanese-inspired spread.
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Grilled Protein Companion: It complements grilled salmon, chicken teriyaki, or shrimp skewers, making it a great side for a lighter summer dinner.
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Lunch Bowl Base: Add a scoop of this salad to a bed of mixed greens, top with extra avocado or a hard-boiled egg, and you have a hearty, nutritious lunch bowl.
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Appetizer for Gatherings: Serve it in small cups or on cucumber rounds as bite-sized appetizers for parties or picnics.
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Meal Prep Staple: Because it keeps well in the fridge (especially if the avocado is added just before serving), it’s an ideal option for batch cooking and quick meals.
Cultural Inspiration, Modern Interpretation
What makes this salad particularly special is its blend of cultural inspiration and modern dietary preferences. It bridges traditional Japanese flavors with Western culinary sensibilities, much like the California roll did decades ago. It honors the core idea of fusion cuisine: bringing together the best of different food traditions to create something new, accessible, and universally enjoyable.
Moreover, it reflects the current culinary trend of “deconstructed” dishes—taking the components of a classic recipe and presenting them in a new format. This allows home cooks to enjoy familiar flavors in less conventional, often more convenient ways. And for people who may feel intimidated by sushi-making or prefer to avoid raw fish, it opens the door to a sushi-like experience without the complexity.
Conclusion
In a world where time is short and ingredients aren’t always easy to source, the Easy California Roll Cucumber Salad offers a brilliant solution. It’s fresh, flavorful, adaptable, and healthy—all the qualities you want in a modern meal. Whether you’re a sushi lover looking for a quick fix, a busy parent seeking healthy family meals, or someone experimenting with Asian-inspired dishes, this salad is a go-to recipe that delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
Its blend of crisp, creamy, and savory elements makes it a standout dish, and its versatility means you can enjoy it year-round, in a variety of settings. More than just a recipe, it’s a celebration of culinary creativity and cross-cultural appreciation. Add it to your rotation and see just how effortlessly you can bring the essence of sushi to your table—no rolling mat required.