CUCUMBER RIBBON SALAD WITH ASIAN DRESSING (for four)

¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar

½ teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon soy sauce

½ teaspoon Asian sesame oil

1-1/2 seedless cucumbers (usually plastic-wrapped)

1. Combine vinegar and sugar in a very small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature, then stir in soy sauce and sesame oil.

2. Cut whole cucumber crosswise in half. With mandoline, cut cucumbers lengthwise into 1/8 inch thick ribbons. Toss cucumbers with dressing in a bowl and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. (Do not let dressed salad stand for more than 20 minutes before serving or it will become soggy).

from The Gourmet Cookbook