HILLED SWEET AND SOUR CUCUMBER NOODLES

INGREDIENTS:

2 medium cucumbers, peeled
1/2 cup diced red onion
3/4 cup rice vinegar
2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons white sesame seeds

Equipment: a mandoline or spiralizer

DIRECTIONS:

Attach the julienne blade to the mandoline and adjust it to the 1/8-inch-thick setting. Applying medium pressure, carefully run one of the cucumbers down the blade to form noodles, slicing until you reach the core. Rotate the cucumber a quarter turn and continue slicing and rotating until you've cut the entire cucumber. Repeat the slicing process with the second cucumber then transfer the cucumber noodles to a medium bowl.

Add the red onion, rice vinegar, 1/4 cup water, sugar and crushed red pepper flakes (optional) to the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the cucumber noodles for a minimum of 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until chilled.

While the noodles are chilling, toast the sesame seeds in a small saucepan over low heat until golden brown.

When ready to serve, use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to serving plates and top with the toasted sesame seeds.