5.0 from 63 votes
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
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!
Prep Time
7 mins
Salting time
30 mins
Total Time
37 mins
Servings: 4 as a side
Calories: 100 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
Asian , Chinese
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.
Cup of Yum
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
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
% 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.