Description
Spicy Smacked Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and zesty dish made with crispy cucumbers and a flavorful spicy garlic soy-based dressing. This quick and easy salad combines sweet, savory, and spicy notes, making it the perfect side dish to complement any meal. Ready in just 10 minutes, it’s a great way to enjoy a light and healthy snack or meal addition.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 mini cucumbers
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons regular soy sauce
- 1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar (or rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Chinese chili oil
Instructions
- Slice the ends off the mini cucumbers. With the side of your knife, gently smash the cucumbers a few times until they are slightly flattened and broken open in the center.
- Slice the cucumbers on an angle into 2-cm thick diagonal strips.
- Transfer the sliced cucumbers to a bowl. Add salt and massage it into the cucumbers. Allow them to sit for 5-10 minutes to draw out excess moisture.
- Rinse the cucumbers thoroughly under cold running water to remove excess salt.
- Drain the cucumbers, removing as much excess water as possible.
- Mix the cucumbers with the dressing ingredients, ensuring everything is well coated. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
Notes
- For a milder version, you can omit the chili oil or use a smaller amount.
- Mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers work best for this recipe, but you can also use English cucumbers if needed.
- Make sure to rinse the cucumbers well after salting to avoid the salad becoming too salty.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 222 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1591mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg