Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
User Reviews
5.0
63 reviews
Excellent
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
Report
Recipe video above. If you love cucumbers, or even if you don't, you have to try this Asian cucumber salad recipe! Smashing is a classic Asian technique, it creates crevices for the chunky chilli dressing to nestle in. The perfect combination of refreshing and firecracker heat. OBSESSED!Spice level - Decent warm buzz but not blow-your-head-off if you are using my go-to chilli crisp, the Laoganma Crispy Chilli Oil. Note 3.Scared of the chilli? Make Smashed Cucumbers with ginger sauce instead!
Share:
Ingredients
- 4 cucumbers (~20cm/8", scale up/down for shorter/longer, Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1 eschalot/French onion , halved then very thinly sliced (US: shallot) (Note 2)
- 1 cup green onion , green part only finely sliced (1 large, 2 small stems)
- 2 tbsp+ chilli crisp (crispy chilli oil) - Laoganma is my fave (Note 3)
- 2 tsp white seame seeds , toasted (save some for topping)
Dressing:
- 1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar (sub any clear vinegar)
- 2 tsp soy sauce , all-purpose or light (Note 4)
- 2 tsp sesame oil , toasted (ie brown, not yellow)
Instructions
Smash & salt cucumbers
- Smash - Hit cucumbers with a meat mallet, rolling pin or similar to make the sides burst open. Cut in half lengthwise then into 2.5cm/1" pieces.
- Salt 30 min - Place in a bowl, toss with salt. Set aside for 30 minutes to draw out water (Note 5). Drain/strain and discard salty water, leave cucumbers in same bowl.
Salad
- Whisk Dressing in a bowl.
- CHECK spiciness of your chilli crisp - they vary by brand. If using Laoganma, stick with recipe, else adjust to taste.
- Toss - Put green onion, eschalots, sesame seeds, dressing and chilli crisp in with the cucumbers. Toss until eschalots go floppy - ~30 seconds.
- Serve, sprinkled with extra sesame seeds and dollops of chilli crisp if you dare!
- Note: Water continues to come out of cucumbers so after few hours/next day, you'll have a lot more dressing but not as intense flavoured. So eat/serve with spoon to get plenty of dressing in every bite!
Notes
- Cucumbers - I use four of what we call Lebanese cucumbers here in Australia, the equivalent is Persian in the US (though usually slightly smaller). Or 2 longer English / telegraph cucumbers which are around 30cm/1 foot long.
- Eschalot/French onion - Called shallots in the US, not as hash onion-y as regular onions and more delicate so they flop and meld better. Sub with 1/s small red onion sliced extra finely.
- Chilli crisp - Laoganma is the worldwide favourite, sold in large grocery stores as well as Asian stores. It's actually not that spicy, it's more about the crunchy chilli and salty/sweet flavour.
- Plenty of other brands - look for (Asian) jars with the word CRISPY, CRUNCHY or CRUNCH in it! Tres trendy in the Western world (I'm late to the party). Use leftovers for Chilli Crisp Noodles!
- Soy sauce - All purpose or light soy. Not dark (too intense) or sweet (too...sweet!).
- Smashing/salting - Draws excess water out of cucumbers than makes flavour watery.
- Leftovers good for 24 hours, after this the cucumbers go a little too soft for my taste.
- Nutrition per serving, assuming 4 servings as a side.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
100cal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
10g
(3%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
Sodium
615mg
(26%)
Potassium
504mg
(14%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
466IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
15mg
(17%)
Calcium
64mg
(6%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4as a side
Amount Per Serving
Calories 100 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 100cal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Sodium | 615mg | 26% |
| Potassium | 504mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 466IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 15mg | 17% |
| Calcium | 64mg | 6% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
63 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
