Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜)
Enjoy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad bursting with flavor from a spicy vinaigrette made using vinegar and homemade chili oil!
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 2 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 3 cucumbers ((3 medium or 2 large))
- 4 cloves garlic ((finely chopped))
- 3/4 tsp sugar ((or to taste))
- 3/4 tsp salt ((1/4 tsp for the sauce and 1/2 tsp to marinate))
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce ((or to preference))
- 2 1/2 tbsp black vinegar ((or to preference))
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp chili oil ((or to preference; we use a homemade version))
Instructions
- 1
Cut off the ends of each cucumber.
- 2
Use a large flat utensil like a cleaver or meat mallet to smash the cucumbers one at a time. You want to smash them until they've collapsed into themselves. Avoid over-smashing because they'll turn into mush.
- 3
Slice them diagonally, roughly 1cm (0.4") thick.
- 4
Place each cut piece into a large bowl and mix 1/2 tsp salt through. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- 5
Meanwhile, combine the light soy sauce, black vinegar, garlic, sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, sesame oil and chili oil.
- 6
After the 5 minutes of sitting, pour the cucumber liquid out of the bowl so you're left with just cucumbers.
- 7
Stir through the sauce and serve immediately as is!