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5.0 from 267 votes

Smashed Asian Cucumber Salad

This Smashed Asian cucumber salad recipe is light, refreshing and perfect for the summer, but packed with flavor from a zingy dressing, garlic, and cilantro. It only takes 10 minutes to make!

Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 71 kcal
Course: Salad , Appetizer
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 2 seedless cucumbers (about 1 to 1 1/2 lbs; 600g)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 3 teaspoons light soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2-4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
  • 1-2 teaspoons Chili oil (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
  • a small handful of chopped cilantro

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Wash the cucumbers and pat them dry with a clean towel. Make the salad dressing by combining the salt, sugar, sesame oil, light soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Stir until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Set aside.
  2. On a cutting board, lay a large knife flat against the cucumber, and smash it lightly with your other hand. The cucumber should crack open and smash into four sections. Repeat along its full length. Once the whole cucumber is completely open (usually into 4 long sectional pieces), cut it at a 45-degree angle into bite-sized pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, mix the cut cucumber with the prepared dressing, garlic and chili oil. Toss it well. Serve, garnished with sesame seeds and cilantro. (Note: if you prefer to omit the chili oil, heat up a tablespoon of oil in a pan and drizzle it over the cucumber. Seems weird, but in Chinese cooking, uncooked vs. cooked oil have different flavors and are treated as such!)

Nutrition Information

Calories 71kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 9g (3%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 837mg (35%) Potassium 240mg (7%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 292IU (6%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 36mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 71

% Daily Value*

Calories 71kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 837mg 35%
Potassium 240mg 5%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 292IU 6%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 36mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.