- This year, I pledged to take my wellness journey more seriously.
- A viral mini pepper and cucumber salad I found on Instagram is easy and healthy, two things I value.
In late spring, I found a recipe that changed everything.
It's the viral cucumber and mini pepper salad, accentuated by ginger dressing, crunchy chili oil, and Everything Bagel seasoning. The recipe has different variations, but I stumbled upon an Instagram video posted by @itstrinityjae, shared on April 12. As of Saturday, the video has over 78,000 likes.
At first glance, I wasn't convinced.
After trying to take my wellness more seriously in 2019, I completely abandoned ship about a year into the pandemic. Like many of us, I stopped working out and ate whatever I wanted, resulting in a 20-pound weight gain.
But something about the recipe's simplicity and the rave reviews in the comment section made me try it. It's now become a staple in my lunch routine, and I sometimes eat it as a side dish with my dinner.
Since making the recipe in May, I've started moving my body for at least 30 minutes daily, four times a week. I've also dropped about 15 pounds.
I'm hooked. I plan to continue making this recipe and bring it to dinner parties until further notice.
The recipe takes less than 10 minutes
If you're a person who hates cooking, this recipe is it. You don't need much to make it come to life, just a cutting board, a knife, and five ingredients:
- 1 cucumber
- 5 -7 mini peppers
- Ginger dressing or a dressing of your choice (Season to taste.)
- Everything Bagel seasoning (Includes poppy seeds, garlic flakes, salt, onion flakes, and sesame seeds. Season to taste.)
- 1-2 tbsp of crunchy chili oil
- 1 salad bowl
- 1 cutting knife
I prefer to slice my cucumbers into small halves and dice them. I cut the tips off the ends of the mini peppers and then slice them into small circles.
Once you cut up the vegetables, add them to the salad bowl and toss in the other ingredients, including the dressing, bagel seasoning, and chili oil.
The crunch keeps me coming back for more
This dish deviates from a traditional salad, which usually includes lettuce of some kind. While I enjoy a good salad, I'm not a big fan of soggy food, and most of the time, the minute you add dressing to the mix, your salad becomes weighed down, even if you use a small amount.
With the cucumber and mini pepper salad, you avoid that sogginess. Even over the course of multiple days, each bite stays crunchy. The spicy chili oil and bagel seasoning also makes it taste dynamic.
Different additions can spice it up
If I can't find the ginger dressing in the grocery store, I'll substitute it with Italian dressing or a vinaigrette. In the past, I've also added feta cheese, slices of avocado, and wonton strips for some added oomph.
Not only do cucumbers and mini peppers have a great consistency due to their crunch factor, but they also absorb additives beautifully.
The possibilities are endless, so it's truly up to you.