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Smashed Cucumber Salad
Recipe video above. This is an Asian way of making cucumber salad that's utterly addictive! Cooling salad for spicy food and hot weather, smashing the cucumbers so they burst open makes the dressing get into right into all those cracks and crevices. Plus, it's just really satisfying to make!!
Servings: 4 - 5 people
Calories: 4149 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
Asian
Ingredients
- 500g/ 1 lb cucumbers (4 medium or 2 long cucumbers, Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp coriander/cilantro , roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions , sliced
Dressing:
- 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp sesame oil , toasted (Note 2)
- 1.5 tsp ginger , freshly grated
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Bash the cucumbers until they split open on the sides (see video) using something heavy like the smooth side of a meat mallet, rolling pin, pestle or even a can.
- Cut into 2.5cm/1" chunks then place in a bowl.
- Sprinkle with salt, toss, leave for 20 minutes.
- Drain excess liquid in the bowl.
- Shake or mix Dressing well.
- Drizzle over cucumbers, sprinkle with coriander and green onions. Toss and serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Cucumber type - use 2 long cucumbers (Telegraph/English Cucumbers) or 3 medium standard cucumbers (called "Lebanese" cucumbers in Australia, these are the most common variety).
- Sesame oil - toasted sesame oil is brown and has more flavour than untoasted (which is yellow). Default sesame oil sold in Australia is toasted, untoasted is harder to find.
- Coriander is optional. Green onion is ideal - can sub with finely sliced red onion, eschallots/shallots/French onions or chives.
- Nutrition - the sodium level looks high because it includes all the salt used to draw excess liquid from the cucumbers. But much of this salt is discarded.
Nutrition Information
Calories
41.49cal
(2%)
Carbohydrates
4.23g
(1%)
Protein
1.33g
(3%)
Fat
2.25g
(3%)
Saturated Fat
0.3g
(2%)
Sodium
609.21mg
(25%)
Potassium
216.13mg
(6%)
Fiber
1.06g
(4%)
Sugar
2.35g
(5%)
Vitamin A
202.46IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
10.47mg
(12%)
Calcium
32.84mg
(3%)
Iron
0.84mg
(5%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4- 5 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 4149
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 41.49cal | 2% |
| Carbohydrates | 4.23g | 1% |
| Protein | 1.33g | 3% |
| Fat | 2.25g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Sodium | 609.21mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 216.13mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1.06g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2.35g | 5% |
| Vitamin A | 202.46IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 10.47mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 32.84mg | 3% |
| Iron | 0.84mg | 5% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.