Fresh & Cool Ensaladang Pipino (Filipino Cucumber Salad)

It’s giving fresh and healthy, Sporks!

If you’re looking for a refreshing and healthy dish, ensaladang pipino is the perfect choice.

We’ve been posting some heavy recipes lately, so we thought we’d switch gears and share something light and delightful.

Ensaladang pipino, also known as Filipino cucumber salad, is a simple yet satisfying dish that highlights the delicious flavor of cucumbers. It is made with a medley of vegetables such as cucumber, tomatoes, and shallots, all tossed in a light, tangy dressing.

We love how low maintenance and versatile this salad dish is. You can serve it on the side of basically any meal to get your daily dose of veggies. Browse our blog for more vegetable recipes!

Keep reading to find out how to make this delicious ensaladang pipino recipe!

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Table of Contents

Introduction to Ensaladang Pipino

Ensaladang Pipino translates to “cucumber salad” in English. It is a popular dish in Filipino cuisine and is commonly eaten as a refreshing side dish.

Ensaladang Pipino is well-loved for its simplicity and vibrant flavors.

The crunchy texture of the cucumber, the juicy sweetness of the tomatoes, and the tangy dressing create a harmonious combination that will leave your taste buds asking for more.

My Cucumber Salad Experience

I normally dig in to the history of the traditional Filipino dishes that we share, but I was surprised to find very little information about the origins of ensaladang pipino.

Instead I will share with you my personal insights on the dish.

I believe that this dish was introduced by the Spaniards during their colonization of the Philippines, as the term “ensalada” is derived from Spanish.

In Spanish cuisine, there is a super similar dish called “ensalada de pepino,” which translates to “cucumber salad” and has nearly the same ingredients and preparation method as ensaladang pipino. I believe the difference is in the dressing!

Growing up Filipino-American, I carried the presumption that “salads” in Filipino cuisine were quite different from the typical lettuce-based salads found in Western culture.

Therefore I had associated Filipino salads with dessert salads made of tropical fruits and beans, or pickled vegetable salads made of marinated vegetables like atchara. For me, any fresh vegetable salad I saw at a family gathering was immediately associated with Western dishes.

I probably saw this salad many times growing up and didn’t think much of it because as a Filipino dish because it seemed so Western. But now I understand that ensaladang pipino is a unique and delicious part of Filipino cuisine in its own right!

Today, I make ensaladang pipino alongside many of my Filipino dishes to add a refreshing element to the meal. I’ve even made a huge batch for when we hosted kamayans with friends and family, and it’s always a hit!

Why You Should Make Ensaladang Pipino

It’s healthy and refreshing! – Ensaladang Pipino is a great addition to a healthy diet as cucumbers are low in calories and high in water content, making it an excellent high-volume food choice that can help you feel full without packing on extra calories.

It’s easy to make and prep ahead! – Ensaladang Pipino is a simple dish that requires minimal effort and time to prepare. You can even make it ahead of time or make a large batch for meal prepping throughout the week.

It’s affordable! – Cucumbers are readily available and often inexpensive, making ensaladang pipino a budget-friendly dish that can be enjoyed by anyone. This also goes for the other ingredients, and you likely already have the ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator.

Pairing Suggestions for Ensaladang Pipino

Ensaladang Pipino is a versatile dish that pairs well with a variety of Filipino and non-Filipino meals.

The cool and crisp feel of this dish makes it a great complement to rich and flavorful dishes. Think of pairing it with grilled meats, fried foods, and spicy foods.

It acts as both a healthy and refreshing counterbalance to heavier dishes. They way it cleanses your palate between bites is truly satisfying!

Here are a few pairing suggestions for Ensaladang Pipino:

• Chicken Inasal
• Pork Belly Sisig
• Lumpia Shanghai
• Tortang Talong
• Chicken Adobo
• Fried Bangus

Let us know in the comments what you enjoy pairing ensaladang pipino with!

Tips for the Perfect Ensaladang Pipino

We have some tips for making Ensaladang Pipino that will help you achieve the perfect dish with maximum flavor and efficiency:

1. Use the freshest ingredients possible – Opt for fresh cucumbers that are firm and crisp. Look for tomatoes that are ripe and have a vibrant red color. You get the point! This is the most important step in ensuring the best taste and texture for your ensaladang pipino.
2. Use tools to make your prep easier – Save time and effort by investing in a good quality mandoline slicer, green onion shredder, or a sharp knife to easily slice your vegetables.

3. Adjust your slice thickness to your preference – Some people prefer their cucumbers thinly sliced, while others enjoy a thicker cut for more crunch. Experiment with different slice thicknesses to find what you prefer.
4. Add fish sauce to enhance the flavor – Fish sauce (patis) is a common ingredient in Filipino cuisine and adds a savory umami flavor to the ensaladang pipino. If you really enjoy that savory and salty kick, you can add a little more fish sauce to enhance the flavor even further.
5. Make it spicy – If you enjoy a bit of heat, add some chopped siling labuyo or chopped chili peppers to the dressing to give your ensaladang pipino some extra attitude!

Ingredients

The ingredients for Ensaladang Pipino are simple and readily available, making it an easy and accessible dish to prepare.

• 3-4 pieces green onion curled is optional. See Note 1.
• 1 tbsp patis (fish sauce)
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• ½ tbsp sugar
• ¼ cup cilantro chopped
• 1 shallot thinly sliced
• black pepper to taste
• 1 lb tomatoes chopped
• 1½ lbs cucumbers sliced

Note 1. We curled the green onion to add a touch of elegance and visual appeal to the dish. If you would like to omit the curly green onion, you can simply chop them up and mix them in with the other ingredients.

We used roma tomatoes for this recipe, but cherry tomatoes or any other type of ripe tomatoes can also be used.

Same goes for cucumbers – you can use English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers, or even Japanese cucumbers.

Swapping these ingredients will give a slight variation in taste and texture, so feel free to experiment and find your favorite combination!

With regards to the dressing, we experimented with a few ratios of vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar and found a combination that was very light in flavor yet still had a good balance of acidity and sweetness.

We did not want the dressing to overpower the crisp freshness of the vegetables, so we kept it light and refreshing.

The dressing was enough to just lightly coat the vegetables without making them soggy, although over time there may be some slight wilting of the vegetables from the dressing.

Recipe

1. Shred the green onion and submerge them in ice water. Place in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.

2. Combine fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cilantro, shallots, and black pepper.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes and cucumbers.

4. Add the dressing within minutes of serving. Garnish with curly green onion (See Note 2.)

Note 2. It is unlikely to get 100% of all the green onions curled, so pick out the best ones for garnish, and set aside the rest for future cooking.

Preparing Ahead and Storage Tips for Ensaladang Pipino

We’ve made large batches of ensaladang pipino and have learned a few things about preparing ahead and storing it for later.

If you’re planning to serve it later or want to have leftovers, it’s best to keep the chopped veggies, dressing, and herbs (cilantro and green onion) separated until you’re ready to eat.

Only mix them all right before serving to maintain their crispness and freshness. If you were to mix everything together and then store it, the dish will become soggy and unappetizing.

You can store the chopped vegetables for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. For the herbs, place a paper towel over them to absorb any excess moisture and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. And for the dressing, you can store it in a separate container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Final Thoughts

Made with only the freshest of ingredients, Ensaladang Pipino is a versatile and refreshing Filipino salad that is the perfect accompaniment to any meal. Try it as a side dish to grilled, fried, or spicy foods for a burst of coolness and crunch!

We hope you enjoy this recipe! Share your creations on Instagram and tag us @itsforkandspoon!

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References & Further Reading

https://www.thespruceeats.com/spanish-cucumber-salad-recipe-3083552

Daza, Nora & Mariles. “Green Salad.” Galing Galing Philippine Cuisine. Manila, National Book Store, Inc. 1974. Page 136.