Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜)
User Reviews
5
Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜)
Description
This salad starts by smashing whole cucumbers to crack their skin and flesh, then cutting into bite-sized pieces. Salt is sprinkled to draw out excess moisture, which is subsequently drained. The cucumbers are then tossed with minced garlic, light soy sauce, black rice vinegar, sesame oil, a pinch of sugar, and chili oil, offering a balance of salty, sour, nutty, and spicy notes.
The texture remains crisp but softened slightly from the salting and smashing process, enhancing the cucumber's ability to absorb the dressing. The salad is served fresh, and flavor deepens if allowed to sit a short time for seasoning to penetrate.
This dish is suitable as a refreshing accompaniment to heavier meals or as a light snack. The optional Sichuan pepper oil adds a subtle numbing heat that complements the chili oil.
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber or 2 small ones (about 350g/12oz)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce light
- ½ tablespoon black rice vinegar e.g. Chikiang vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 pinch sugar
- Chili oil to taste, Chinese style
- Sichuan pepper oil optional
Instructions
- Place cucumber onto a chopping board. Use the side of a cleaver, or a rolling pin/a meat pounder, to smash it. Make sure the pressure is enough to crack it open by one stroke, instead of pounding it multiple times on one spot. Then cut it crosswise into bite-sized pieces.
- Transfer the cucumber to a bowl. Sprinkle evenly with salt. Leave to rest for 10 minutes or so. Then drain away the water extracted by the salt (see note).
- Add light soy sauce, black rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, chilli oil and Sichuan pepper oil if using. Toss very well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Enjoy it right away or let it sit for 2 minutes before serving (The flavour will penetrate further into the cucumber).
Notes
- Salting the cucumber to remove water is optional; if skipped, halve the salt added during seasoning.
- Use enough force to crack cucumbers with a cleaver or similar tool in one hit rather than multiple strikes.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 53 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 53kcal | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10g | 59% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 813mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 269mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 126IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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