# Cucumber relish/dressing seen in a Thai restaurant salad bar
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 8, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339 "2015-08-08T21:59:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/1 "2015-08-08T21:59:06Z")
I used to go to a Thai place occasionally for lunch before my work office recently moved, and in their salad bar they had a delicious dressing or whatever in their salad bar. It was primarily chopped cucumber, and I’m not sure what liquid. It wasn’t oil or vinegar, perhaps it was sweet.
Anybody know what I’m talking about and/or what it is called and where to find it? There are several Asian markets near me, I might be able to get it there if I know what I’m looking for.
---
### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/2 "2015-08-08T22:24:19Z")
I’ll be surprised if it wasn’t vinegar, but not just vinegar.
---
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/3 "2015-08-08T22:27:41Z")
Good point, if there was a lot of other stuff I could have missed or not remember the vinegar.
---
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/4 "2015-08-08T22:41:05Z")
The more I think about it, the more I think it was vinegar. But other stuff too.
---
### Author:  [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/5 "2015-08-08T22:48:51Z")
Rice wine vinegar is pretty sweet, pretty mild as far as vinegars go, and has a nice flavor. Maybe they used that?
---
### Author:  [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/6 "2015-08-09T00:54:59Z")
Lots of recipes were found when I googled “thai cucumber sauce”.
Here’s one: [http://thai.food.com/recipe/cucumber-vinegar-sauce-34164](http://thai.food.com/recipe/cucumber-vinegar-sauce-34164)
Mainly cucumber, vinegar, and sugar.
---
### Author:  [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/7 "2015-08-09T08:09:07Z")
Could it have contained fish sauce? This is a very common ingredient in Thai food.
[Here](http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/recipes/fishsauce1.html) is a recipe for chile-lime fish sauce. The cucumber relish might have used some variant of this.
---
### Author:  [@Dodgecity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dodgecity)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/8 "2015-08-10T02:44:49Z")
Might be this with cucumbers added
Nuoc Mam (watered down fish sauce for dipping) \*\*A must try
1/4 cup Squid brand fish sauce
1/6 vinegar
3/4-1 cup water
2/5 cup sugar
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 or 2 chopped red chill pepper
optional: shredded raw or pickled carrots
Mix all ingredients in large bowl and serve. Can be used as dipping sauce for deep fried spring rolls or fresh spring rolls, drizzled over vermicelli w/ bbq meat or even rice dish w/ bbq meat.
Must use Squid brand fish sauce and not Three Crab? brand. It’s a third of the cost and tastes way better (imo). You can substitute fresh lemon juice for vinegar,
---
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/9 "2015-08-21T20:41:02Z")
> [@Turek](#):
>
> Lots of recipes were found when I googled “thai cucumber sauce”.
>
> Here’s one: [http://thai.food.com/recipe/cucumber-vinegar-sauce-34164](http://thai.food.com/recipe/cucumber-vinegar-sauce-34164)
>
> Mainly cucumber, vinegar, and sugar.
That could be similar, I do not recall any chili paste or cilantro though. And I’d remember cilantro, I can’t stand the stuff. But I bet what I had was this recipe without those things. Thanks!
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#):
>
> Could it have contained fish sauce? This is a very common ingredient in Thai food.
>
> [Here](http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/recipes/fishsauce1.html) is a recipe for chile-lime fish sauce. The cucumber relish might have used some variant of this.
No, no fish, but thanks.
> [@Dodgecity](#):
>
> Might be this with cucumbers added
>
> Nuoc Mam (watered down fish sauce for dipping) \*\*A must try
>
> 1/4 cup Squid brand fish sauce
> 1/6 vinegar
> 3/4-1 cup water
> 2/5 cup sugar
> 2 tbsp minced garlic
> 1 or 2 chopped red chill pepper
>
> optional: shredded raw or pickled carrots
>
> Mix all ingredients in large bowl and serve. Can be used as dipping sauce for deep fried spring rolls or fresh spring rolls, drizzled over vermicelli w/ bbq meat or even rice dish w/ bbq meat.
>
> Must use Squid brand fish sauce and not Three Crab? brand. It’s a third of the cost and tastes way better (imo). You can substitute fresh lemon juice for vinegar,
No fish, but thanks.
---
### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/10 "2015-08-21T20:53:35Z")
[Look like this?](https://www.google.com/search?q=thai+bowl+taylor+street+cucumber+salad&biw=939&bih=639&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoA2oVChMIxtbukIe7xwIVxKGACh3kxwGR#imgrc=W_5fbCBlM4kWfM%3A)
It’s sweet and sour vinegar.
---
### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/11 "2015-08-21T20:58:21Z")
I really like this recipe, it’s very easy
[http://amazingribs.com/recipes/slaws\_salads\_and\_other\_vegetables/thai\_cucumber\_salad.htm](http://amazingribs.com/recipes/slaws_salads_and_other_vegetables/thai_cucumber_salad.htm)
---
### Author:  [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/12 "2015-08-21T21:02:01Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> No fish, but thanks.
I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but fish sauce is one of the most common seasonings in Thai food. Anything that has any salty flavor at all is likely to have fish sauce in it, including your cucumber relish. It’s more common in Thai cooking than soy sauce is in Chinese cooking. Used judiciously, it won’t make the food taste like fish. In addition to being salty, fish sauce has a pronounced umami flavor.
---
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/13 "2015-08-27T14:20:22Z")
> [@bup](#):
>
> [Look like this?](https://www.google.com/search?q=thai+bowl+taylor+street+cucumber+salad&biw=939&bih=639&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoA2oVChMIxtbukIe7xwIVxKGACh3kxwGR#imgrc=W_5fbCBlM4kWfM%3A)
>
> It’s sweet and sour vinegar.
No, it was much more finely chopped. But thanks!
---
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/14 "2015-08-27T14:21:27Z")
> [@madmonk28](#):
>
> I really like this recipe, it’s very easy
>
> [http://amazingribs.com/recipes/slaws\_salads\_and\_other\_vegetables/thai\_cucumber\_salad.htm](http://amazingribs.com/recipes/slaws_salads_and_other_vegetables/thai_cucumber_salad.htm)
Thanks, but it looks like they changed the location of the recipe after you posted the link and it no longer works.
---
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cucumber-relish-dressing-seen-in-a-thai-restaurant-salad-bar/727339/15 "2015-08-27T14:23:06Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#):
>
> I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but fish sauce is one of the most common seasonings in Thai food. Anything that has any salty flavor at all is likely to have fish sauce in it, including your cucumber relish. It’s more common in Thai cooking than soy sauce is in Chinese cooking. Used judiciously, it won’t make the food taste like fish. In addition to being salty, fish sauce has a pronounced umami flavor.
Yes, I’ve even used it a bit myself. But I do not recall the dish in question being salty to any memorable extent.