Ingredients

Serves 4 as a side dish

　　3 heaping tablespoons bonito flakes* (optional)

　　1/4 cup Sherry vinegar or rice vinegar

　　1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

　　2 English cucumbers or 4 regular cucumbers

　　1 tablespoon coarse salt

　　1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste

　　

Garnish:

Garnish: a 1- by 2-inch piece toasted nori* (dried laver) from one 8- by 7 1/2-inch sheet (optional)

　　*available at Japanese markets and some specialty foods shops.

　　

Step 1

If using bonito flakes, in a bowl stir together flakes, vinegar, and soy sauce and let stand 1 hour.

　　

Step 2

Peel and seed cucumbers and diagonally cut into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-thick slices. In a colander set over a bowl toss cucumbers with salt and drain 30 minutes. Rinse cucumbers well and pat dry. Pour bonito mixture through a fine sieve into a large bowl and toss liquid with cucumbers and 1 tablespoon sugar; if not using bonito flakes, toss cucumbers with vinegar, soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste. With scissors cut nori lengthwise into thin strips.

　　

Step 3

Serve salad garnished with nori strips.