4.3 from 90 votes
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Ume Dressing
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Ume Dressing is a perfect dish to re-energize the body and mind. With a refreshing crunch and bright and punchy Japanese dressing, it's the kind of side dish that your body craves. I couldn't love it more!
Prep Time
12 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 4 (as
Calories: 31 kcal
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- 2 Japanese or Persian cucumbers (12 oz, 348 g; these two varieties have less seeds, so they work the best)
- 2 myoga ginger (or substitute ¼ tsp grated ginger or skip)
- 2 umeboshi (Japanese pickled plums) (see my tutorial if you‘re interested in making Homemade Umeboshi)
For the Umeboshi Sauce
- 3 Tbsp dashi (Japanese soup stock)
- 2 Tbsp sake
- 1 Tbsp mirin
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
Cup of Yum
To Make the Umeboshi Sauce
- In a small saucepan, combine all the Umeboshi Sauce ingredients: 3 Tbsp dashi (Japanese soup stock), 2 Tbsp sake, 1 Tbsp mirin, and 1 Tbsp soy sauce. Mix well and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and set aside.
- Discard the bottoms of 2 myoga ginger and cut into thin slices.
- Make a slit on the flesh of 2 umeboshi (Japanese pickled plums) and remove the seed. With the knife, pound it into a paste form.
- Add the umeboshi paste into the Umeboshi Sauce mixture. Mix to combine and set aside.
To Prepare the Cucumber
- Cut off the ends of 2 Japanese or Persian cucumbers and start mashing the cucumber with a wooden rolling pin or a surikogi (Japanese wooden pestle). The skin will begin to crack and the flesh will break down.
- You can tear the cucumber with your hands and continue smashing until the flesh breaks down to pieces.
- Put the smashed cucumber pieces into a bowl, add the myoga ginger, and pour the umeboshi sauce on top. Mix all together and serve!
To Store
- You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Enjoy it soon.
Nutrition Information
Calories
31kcal
(2%)
Carbohydrates
6g
(2%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Sodium
246mg
(10%)
Potassium
48mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
29IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
5mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4(as
Amount Per Serving
Calories 31
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 31kcal | 2% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 246mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 48mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 29IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 5mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.