5 from 88 votes
Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜)
Smashed Cucumber Salad combines crisp cucumber pieces with a seasoning mix of soy sauce, black rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and chili oil. The smashed technique breaks the cucumber’s structure, allowing the flavors to penetrate and creating a refreshing, tangy salad commonly enjoyed as a light side dish.
Prep Time
3 mins
Rest
12 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings:
2
Calories:
53 kcal
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
Chinese
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).
Cup of Yum
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
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%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 53
% 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.