chili lime cucumber noodles
October 10, 2014 § 88 Comments
Hello. It’s hard to imagine it’s October and I haven’t posted a single recipe since August 27th. Well, it isn’t because I haven’t been in the kitchen because I have been making dinner everyday and breakfast on the weekends. Actually, the kitchen is my favorite place to be during these very busy times. While some folks can not imagine entering the kitchen and cooking a meal after working all day; I happen to thrive on it. I guess it can be considered my happy place! Well, I’m back. And I am here to share some of my recent favorites. I simply cannot get enough of these sensational pots of goodness. First, if you share my sentiment for chana dal, try this recipe. Wonderfully spicy, comforting and It happens to be my teenage son’s favorite dinner now and the leftovers are great for breakfast. Another dish on high rotation in our kitchen is this french green lentil recipe I posted back in March; a truly delicious early spring dinner and even better in autumn. Lastly, today’s recipe, chili lime cucumber noodles. Thank goodness my family enjoys cucumbers, and spicy chipotle, and arugula because this salad has been in the middle of our dinner table on a number of occasions for the past two months. And it all started with this. 
This is my new julienne peeler made by OXO. A dear friend gave this to me a few months ago and I have been using it like I have never used a kitchen tool before. Not only is it fun to use but it produces a satisfying texture to cucumbers, carrots, zucchini and even potatoes for hash browns. It is a game changer. Spring for it, you will be glad you did. :) 
This salad is very attractive and texturally crunchy. It’s a little sweet from the honey, spicy from chipotle powder and plenty of salt, pepper and lime juice. There’s just a bit of olive oil and a big handful of arugula, mint and basil. It’s delicious. And you could use zucchini instead of cucumber, it is equally delightful.
I n g r e d i e n t s
- juice of one lime
- chipotle chili powder, to taste
- generous pinch of sea salt
- 1 english cucumber, peeled into noodles with a julienne peeler
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- little squeeze of raw honey
- 2-3 handfuls of arugula
- 2 sprigs of mint, leaves chopped
- 3 sprigs of basil, leaves chopped
- ground black pepper
Combine the lime juice, salt, chipotle powder, olive oil, and honey in a small bowl. Taste and add more chipotle heat or honey to your liking. Toss with the cucumber noodles and arugula until evenly mixed. Add mint and basil and pepper to taste and give a few tosses to combine. Eat right away. 
COTTAGE GROVE HOUSE 
Simply Wow!!!!
Thank you Dimple. This really is a fantastic salad!
Welcome back! That salad looks delicious – and I WANT one of those julienne peelers. It really looks like a useful tool.
Thank you… :) Definitely keep an eye out for the julienne peeler, it’s very cool!
Welcome back, this looks delicious!
Hi Melissa. Thank you. It’s nice to actually post a recipe again. I’ve really missed out on so many wonderful post from all my friends too. I’ll be back to visit though! ;)
The kitchen is my happy place, too! I love that peeler. I have been wanting the tool that makes zucchini into noodles, but this looks simpler. Your salad is such an interesting combination of ingredients and textures. I bet I would love it!
Isn’t the kitchen the best place to be! A great way to get our minds off of work and create aroma’s and fabulous food! You would love this salad. It’s such clean food and the little kick of chipotle is nice. I’m just like you, I wanted that other peeler too. It would still be nice to own, however, this julienne peeler is really cool. Hope you get one!
What a comeback – can’t wait to try this! Just need to get me one of those graters now – how cool :)
Hi Joanne. Hope you find an oxo peeler. You’ll love this with either cucumber or zucchini. It’s so flavorful and very attractive too. Thank you for stopping in!
Can’t wait to try it – just ordered one off Amazon, lol! :)
This is amazing thank you looks delicious!
Thank “you” for stopping in. :) I will have to come over and check out your blog…
Welcome back! I hope your time away has been fun-filled and enjoyable. I love the sound and look of this dish and am always looking for new ways to use up all the zucchini we get weekly. Will definitely be giving this recipe a try! Also, my eyes got huge when I saw that vegetable peeler. I am adding it to my must buy list!
Hi Ngan. Well I wish it was a fun filled vacation but actually I was very busy at work. Things are caught up and now I feel inspired to post again! You know, actually I think I prefer this salad with zucchini. The texture of the julienned zucchini is so wonderful. Definitely buy the peeler. And then make this salad! :) It is really nice to see you here today. Thank you!
Good to see you back! I took an extended break from blogging over the summer after getting caught up with other aspects of life, though similar to you, my kitchen time didn’t take much of a beating, it’s often what gets me through. Love the look of that julienne peeler, what a snazzy little gadget to have in your drawer! My gf gave me a mandolin a couple of months ago, and I have yet to get around to using it, despite the fact that the idea of doing so fills me with delight every time I think about it! Anyway, will most definitely be making this. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts, I love the way you eat!
Karinna, your message just made my day! So thoughtful and kind. It’s a bit odd jumping back in after being removed for a month and I got a little bit nervous before pressing the publish button! I have wanted a mandolin for ages. It really is satisfying to create these perfect little julienne cuts. :) I can only imagine how fun using a mandolin would be. Especially with potatoes! Thank you again for your kind comment.
By the way, I had to go out and buy the Oxo julienne peeler the other day! Made a cucumber salad yesterday to go with duck & miso aubergines. I intended to follow your recipe, but didn’t have everything on hand, so made a somewhat simpler version of it. Was still good – I love how the julienne strips almost turn cucumber into a whole new thing!
I’m so glad you picked on up! Isn’t it wonderful? I love to julienne zucchini too….and carrots. Very cool.
Welcome back!! Love the sound of this, so refreshing and delicious. I love the colours in it as well. I’ve not seen the julienne peeler before, but I want one now…
Hey thanks…good to be back in the swing of things. Happy to see your comment! :)
I missed you Seana, even checked a few times to make sure I hadn’t unfollowed accidently. Love that julienned tool, it’s a beauty and a lot safer than a mandolin. The salad sounds delicious, we love everything about cucumber
Hi Sandra. It was very interesting because once I got sidetracked from the blog and a week went by it became harder to get back to it. (or shall I say easier to not post!) And, when I cooked something post worthy my photographs looked horrible. Lost steam. Aw well, it’s great to put up a post again and I realize how much I love blogging! Especially hearing from my friends, such as you. :)
Where you been, Seana? Great to have you back! That’s a refreshing salad that I thought at first was really made of noodles, like real noodles. Not that cucumber noodles are not real, of course :-). And I want that julienne peeler!
Thank you Angie! The days got away from me. I work at a private elementary school and once school started in September I got real busy. Oh and we just finished up a major exterior home project last weekend too! Plus, it football season! :) Yes…we are Seahawk fans (of course, we live in Seattle) and my son plays on his high school varsity team. That’s it in a nutshell. So nice to be back and extra special hearing from all my friends! I missed everyone…
Oh my gosh, I have a friend who has one of those cutters, and it’s high on my list of gadgets I’d like…It’s just sometimes I wonder how many things I need to cut stuff with!!
Oh, yeah, the salad, too, looks great!! :)
Lol! You need lots of things to cut stuff with! :) Especially if you are going to make fancy cuts… Seriously, there is something very satisfying about using this tool. I love the perfectly even strands. Glad to see your comment this morning. I’ll be by for a visit today.
OK, so now I feel affirmed! :) If only Amazon wasn’t so darned easy! And good to see you back with us, too!
Nice to see you back xx
Thank you Elaine. Nice to be back in the swing of things. :)
:)
Welcome back, Seanna :) Really delicious salad.
Hi Linda. Very happy to be blogging again. I need to stop in for a visit. I miss your wonderfully unique recipes. See you soon. :)
Hi Seana! You’ve been missed! :) I love how fresh and fragrant this salad both sounds and looks. With our weather warming up, this will be just the dish to accompany many a bbq (or perhaps to wrap up in rice paper, with our Vietnamese spring rolls?) The julienne peeler is something I’ll be off to look for in the next few days… handy for so many veggies! Thanks for sharing and lovely to see you back!
You must be very happy to have warmer weather. Last night was the first time this year I sat shivering at a football game. I went to the concession to get some tea and all they had was hot chocolate (swiss miss, no thank you) and I ended up with a cup of hot water, just to get warm! I love your idea about using this salad in spring rolls. What a brilliant idea! Hope you try the salad. I think I have prepared this at least 8 times. And it is especially good with zucchini and a few pan roasted pumpkin seeds tossed on top. So great to hear from you. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. :)
Great to see you back, and yes, I love this type of gadget. I actually have the spiral slicer and wow, what a wonderful toy to play with
I always make a raw zucchini concoction, but your version with cucumber and this delicious dressing seems much better!
I have seen the spiral slicer! It looks wonderful too. Honestly, I prefer zucchini in this salad over cucumber. I like the firmer texture and it is not so watery. However, the hydrating zucchini is really nice on a hot day. Zucchini in the fall/winter and cucumber in the summer. Solved. :) Thank you for stopping in and leaving me a nice comment Sally.
:-)
Glad you are back Seana. Love the salad and the julienne peeler is appealing. I’ve had good luck with OXO products – my favourite spatula is made by them.
I am only back because of your encouragement Lindy. ;) Your comment the other day gave me the little nudge I needed to swing into action. Thank you. And your last post was very inspiring. I thought about it for the rest of the day. I, too, love cooking marathon’s on a Saturday and your post was so beautifully written. I thrive in a calm and peaceful place and that is how our home is. I imagine your home to be the same. Wish we were neighbors. :) Ever listen to French Cafe on Pandora? Another great soundtrack for your cooking marathon’s.
Seana – you’re sweet. I really wish we were neighbours. I’d drop of tins of baking while I walked my dog. And I’d share my herbs and flowers from the garden. And you could come sit in my kitchen with me leafing through cookbooks while I pour wine.
Going to Google the Frence Cafe on Pandora. Thanks for the recommendation. xo
welcome back my friend!!!
your noodle is a very refreshing and healthy option!!!
good job….
Thank you Dedy. Nice of you to leave me a comment. :)
Love the julienne peeler!
Every kitchen needs one, and I am not a gadget person at all! :)
Happy you’re back with a post! The kitchen is my happy-place, too. Cooking can be therapeutic, I think! Recipe looks delish. Thanks for posting!
Hellotofit! I agree. Cooking is very therapeutic. I could spend all day in the kitchen. Especially on a rainy day like this. I’ll stop by later today to catch up on your posts. :)
It is wonderful to see you back blogging, Seana! I too have been taking somewhat of a “hiatus” while we live in temporary quarters with a tiny kitchen until we close on a house and remodel it before moving in. This post of yours has now made my decision for what I want for my birthday! (Which happens to land on Thanksgiving this year!) I am now dreaming of making hashed browns with that slicer…. :)
Thank you so much. So glad to hear you found a house! Nice to get the remodeling done before moving in. We’re nuts. Our house was perfectly fine when we moved in 5 years ago and with my husband being a carpenter we (he) started tearing down walls and making changes. Looks great now but I lived without a kitchen for a year! Needless to say I became good friends with the slow cooker and microwave, which was set up in the living room. Ha! Great memories, but would never do that again! Definitely ask for a julienne peeler for your birthday! You’ll love it. Happy early birthday! Oh, I was born on Thanksgiving day! Mine’s on the 23rd. :)
Happy Early Birthday to you too! I cannot imagine being without a kitchen for a year… it’s hard enough using the small kitchen that I do have!
What a fabulous recipe to mark your return to the Cottage Grove House, Seana! This salad looks delicious…I’ve got to find one of those julienne peelers!
Hi Nancy! Thank you. I have to get over to your blog and catch up on your posts. I’ll see you in a bit…
I love cucumber noodle salads. Somehow the shape changes the crunch and how the flavours blend. looking forward to tasting this one.
It’s true, the julienne shapes are so wonderfully crunchy and texturally satisfying too. Love how this salad is so refreshing. I love cucumber salads too!
Welcome back! Julienne peelers are the best. I originally bought mine to shred green papaya for a salad and use it all the time for all sorts of Fruit and vegetables. It’s bright orange and my children call it the happy peeler. Just two days ago we acquired another gadget – a bright green spiraliser, at first glance II thought you may have used one too for your cucumber noodles. I’m definitely making these with my brand new toy. Thank you.
Oh my green papaya in a salad sounds wonderful! I’m interested in a spiraliser now too. Love the name happy peeler! Did they name the spiraliser yet? :)
The not so original Mr Twisty. They spent an afternoon spiralising sweet potato into wide fettuccine ribbons which were twisted into coils and shallow fried until crisp. A bit like a fancy rosti. I wish we had one when they were younger – would have been a great way to get more vegetables in. I do think the happy peeler is more versatile though.
It’s so easy to let a week slip by! Which is why I’ve stopped blogging. Still enjoying eating when its ready, not when my camera’s recharging. And I’m actually cooking more than I have done in ages. Anyway, thought of you last week as I do like to keep up with certain bloggers – regardless of how late I usually am at popping by. They sell OXO over here as well, but I haven’t seen your julienne peeler. And I’ve always hated chopping julienne. I’ll be on the lookout. It’ll be great for doing potatoes. Yawn, must get beauty sleep. :)
It’s always nice hearing from you Johnny. Often I wonder what you are cooking these days. I learned so much about cooking from you in the short time I found and followed your blog. Can’t tell you how many of your recipes I tried and all the new spices I discovered through your blog. As for me, I am the same, alway showing up late and usually the last person to comment on a post, so to speak. :)
Totally loved it, will be looking for that noodle peeler now to recreate that recipe. My fav flavors ! :)
:) Nice. Thank you Sonal.
I made this tasty recipe & it was very delicious! I saw cucumber in a whole other manor! ;) xxx
What a super simple, yet delicious, salad. I love the device you use to slice the cucumber.
It is a very nifty device this julienne peeler. :)
This is not only pretty, but I also really love all of the seasoning. Sensational!
Thank you for your kind compliment Mimi. I really like the look the julienne peeler produces. Fun to eat too. :)
Great to see you back! I completely agree with you that people think I’m crazy that after a long day I decompress in the kitchen. It keeps bad thoughts at bay and allows me to stay in the moment while being productive and nourishing. This salad is right up my alley! The lime and chipotle combo is so good. I just got a mandoline which had a julienne seeing but your little device looks way easier. I can’t wait to try this! Thanks also for referring to you favorites. I’m always looking for inspiration and the lentils sound delicious. Xo
Yes and what a great way to get your mind off of the events of the day. I love to have dinner ready when my family shows up after their long day. It’s a perfect way to sit together and connect. I have been wanting a mandolin for years. I love the idea of perfectly cut vegetables, especially thinly sliced potatoes. Problem is I don’t like to have a bunch of gadgets and appliances in the kitchen! :) It’s so nice to hear from you Amanda. I’ll have to keep posting just to keep in touch!
Hi Seana, love this dish, the dressing sounds amazing! The kitchen is my sanctuary as well, my happy place.
Hi Cheri! Thank you so much. I’ll stop in for a visit, I’m curious if you are still in Oregon…
At the first sight I thought you made some spaghetti…. can you believe it? your cucumber noodle look great Seana! Glad that you are back into action! Always great to hear from you!
Doesn’t this look just like spaghetti? It sort of has the same effect when you eat it too. However, I could never replace this with real spaghetti, I love it too much. Maybe it is healthier, yes? Just does not satisfy like semolina and eggs. :)
Add me to the long list of people who are glad you are back Seana!!! so much to respond to here– I agree that an hour in the kitchen, pulling a meal together offers a lot of contentment– and serving it up to your family… AND love that julian peeler!!! never heard of that thing before, but I’m off to track one down. And thanks for the recipe recommendations. Have made your lentil soup and the dal looks so inviting — All to say– so fun to have you back!!
Thank you Rhonda! So glad to hear you have made the lentil soup. I love that soup. The cooking time is even shorter if you have access to Trader Joe’s “cooked’ lentils. You can find them in the refrigerated produce section. Have you tried them? Your comment is so nice. Thank you. :) …hope you order the julienne peeler.
NO!! I’ve never seen the cooked lentils at Trader Joe’s– but I will look for them. it’s funny– one time I was at lunch with a table full of friends and we all started saying what we bought at Trader Joe’s and we all had very different lists!! So I found out all the things I should try. — like you cooked lentils! who knew?!
Have I told you how much I love your recipes? They are so wonderful and inspiring.
So kind Cindy, thank you. I’ll stop in to see what you have been up to. You have a very inspiring blog yourself. :)
I want that kitchen tool! :) I love this salad, pinned it.
Hey thank you! :)
good to see you again. Glad you’ve been enjoying yourself in the kitchen and glad you’re back to share it with us :-D This dish looks dreamy.
Hi Liz. Good to see you too! :) Look forward to catching up with your blog. Glad you stopped in..
Welcome back, Seana! Happy to see you again! :)
Cucumber noodles look tempting and tasty!
Thank you and so nice to see you here. :)
Welcome back Seana! I interrupted my reading of your post to go straight to Ebay to buy myself the julienne peeler. Seriously! Have been wanting one forever so I decided to be proactive. Can’t wait to use it. We’re heading into beautiful Spring weather here and your salad looks incredible. Pinned it to try it when my peeler arrives :)
It is so great to hear from you Saskia! I’m glad you ordered your peeler, you will love it. It really is the neatest kitchen gadget I’ve used in some time. Lovely to hear you are in Spring now. Such a fabulous time of year for cooking! I need to stop in and see what you are up to. The last post I saw had that very cool Barry Gibb doll you created. (Still thinking about it!) :)
What a fantastic way to use cucumber! When I saw the image initially I thought you had made zucchini noodles but julienned cucumber would be so refreshing. The OXO julienne peeler looks like it made the job so much easier too… I need to look out for one of those! Great recipe, loving the Asian flavours xx
Have the peeler! For sure will make the salad thanks!
Love this!