Spicy Cucumber Noodle Salad With Clams
Updated June 10, 2025
- Total Time
- 30 minutes
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 20 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 4mini cucumbers, halved lengthwise and cut into thick slices at an angle
- Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- 6½ounces somen or other thin wheat noodle
- 1teaspoon toasted sesame oil, divided
- 1lemon
- 3large garlic cloves, finely grated
- 2tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 1tablespoon gochugaru, plus more to taste
- 1tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
- 1tablespoon sugar
- 1tablespoon gochujang
- 1teaspoon soy sauce
- 1(6½-ounce) can whole clams with liquid
- 2loosely packed cups tender lettuces, such as spring mix or baby arugula
Preparation
- Step 1
In a colander, toss the cucumbers with ½ teaspoon salt and set aside to sweat until you’re ready to serve.
- Step 2
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to package instructions, drain, rinse well under cold water and return to the empty pot. Toss with ½ teaspoon sesame oil.
- Step 3
While the noodles are cooking, make the dressing: Squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from the lemon into a large mixing bowl. Add the garlic, vinegar, gochugaru, sesame seeds, sugar, gochujang, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of liquid from the clams and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine. Taste and add more salt, lemon juice and gochugaru until saucy and assertively seasoned to your liking.
- Step 4
Drain the clams and add to the dressing. Pat the cucumbers dry with a clean towel and add to the dressing. Toss to combine.
- Step 5
To assemble the salad, spread the noodles on a large platter. Top with the dressed cucumbers and clams, and pile on the lettuce. Drizzle the lettuce with the remaining ½ teaspoon sesame oil, and lightly season with salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Private Notes
Comments
what are (1) gochugaru and (2) gochujang?
This is my go to when I am too tired to cook. The dressing makes the dish. In place of clams, you can top with whatever you have on hand - leftover fish, tinned sardines, a fried egg et al. I’ve also used soba instead of the traditional wheat. Top with greens and you’ve got a one and done meal.
Delicious recipe. I doubled the clams and cucumbers and wish I had doubled the noodles. Portion would have been very light without doubling. Recipe makes plenty of sauce. I used more clam juice (probably triple) and it was a hit.
going to do this with scallops and crab cakes, why not?
not that good. Had to use chopped clams, 2 cans, but flavor just wasn't there. Maybe with better clams and no sugar...
I thought I would love this but didn't. Couldn't get whole clams, so used chopped (2 cans + double clam juice), just didn't work. The whole thing did not have good enough flavor, and was a little sweet. Maybe with better clams and no sugar it would be better, but I'm not inclined to try it.