Cucumber Avocado Rolls with Sesame (Print version)

Fresh cucumber ribbons rolled with avocado and sesame, perfect for healthy appetizers or light lunches.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large cucumber
02 - 1 ripe avocado
03 - 1 small carrot, julienned (optional)
04 - 1/4 red bell pepper, julienned (optional)

→ Seasonings & Garnishes

05 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro or chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 sheet nori, cut into thin strips (optional)

→ Dipping Sauce

08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (gluten-free)
09 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
10 - 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
12 - Pinch chili flakes (optional)

# How to Make:

01 - Wash and dry the cucumber thoroughly. Using a vegetable peeler or mandoline, slice the cucumber lengthwise into very thin strips. Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - Slice the avocado in half, remove the pit, and cut the flesh into thin strips.
03 - Lay one cucumber strip flat on a clean surface. Place a few strips of avocado, carrot, and red bell pepper at one end of the strip. Sprinkle with a pinch of sesame seeds and fresh herbs.
04 - Carefully roll the cucumber strip around the filling to form a tight roll. Secure with a nori strip or toothpick if needed. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make approximately 8 rolls.
05 - Mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, maple syrup or honey, and chili flakes in a small bowl until well combined.
06 - Serve the rolls immediately with the dipping sauce on the side.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • No cooking required, just 20 minutes of meditative slicing and rolling that feels more like playing than working.
  • Light enough to eat as a snack but impressive enough to serve when people come over unexpectedly.
  • Naturally vegan, gluten-free, and adaptable to whatever vegetables are sitting in your crisper drawer.
02 -
  • If your cucumber strips are too wet, they'll tear apart the moment you try to roll them—patting them dry is tedious but it's the difference between success and frustration.
  • Overripe avocado is a disaster; it'll smush and slide right out of the roll, so test it the morning you plan to make these and work accordingly.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 30 seconds if they're not already toasted—it wakes up the flavor in a way that's almost shocking.
  • Make the dipping sauce slightly spicy with chili flakes so it has personality; a plain sesame sauce is forgettable, but a sauce with heat becomes memorable.
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