5 from 80 votes
Sweet and Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad
Sweet and Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad offers crisp chunks of smashed cucumbers combined with ripe peach slices, lightly seasoned with a vinaigrette made from garlic, red pepper flakes, red wine vinegar, maple syrup, and olive oil. Toasted pine nuts and golden raisins add contrasting texture and subtle sweetness while fresh basil lends an aromatic touch. The preparation involves salting cucumbers to draw out excess moisture, yielding a refreshing and crunchy salad with balanced sweet and spicy notes.
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
4
as a side
Calories:
161 kcal
Course:
Side Dish, Appetizer, Lunch
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 5-6 cucumber or 1 large English cucumber, mini Persian
- 2-3 peach sliced, ripe but firm
Sweet and Spicy Vinaigrette
- 2 garlic crushed, cloves
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil good-quality
- black pepper Kosher, to taste
- salt Kosher, to taste
- 2-3 tablespoons pine nuts
- 2-3 tablespoons golden raisins
- basil leaves slivered, one handful; fresh
Instructions
- Smash the cucumbers. Using the back of a heavy knife, smash down on each cucumber using the widest part of the blade (similar to smashing down on a garlic clove to remove its peel) until the cucumber cracks open into a few pieces.1. NOTE: If using a large English cucumber, cut the cucumber into three segments before smashing.
- Using your hands, tear the smashed cucumbers into rough chunks.
- Place the cucumber chunks in a colander and sprinkle with a bit of kosher salt. Place the colander on top of a bowl. Allow the cucumbers to rest for at least 15 minutes, or up to 1 hour. Discard any liquid collected in the bowl.
- Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts. To toast pine nuts, add them to a dry skillet over medium-low heat and toss occasionally until golden brown, 3-5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the Sweet and Spicy Vinaigrette. Crush the garlic cloves. Add them to a bowl, along with the red pepper flakes, vinegar, and maple syrup. Whisk to combine, then stream in the olive oil, whisking as you go. Season to taste with salt and pepper.1. Alternatively, add all of the ingredients to a jar, close the lid, and shake up the jar until the dressing is emulsified.
- Add the drained cucumbers to a large serving bowl.
- Slice the peaches (don’t slice earlier, as they tend to bruise). Add the sliced peaches to the cucumbers, and then toss them with the Sweet and Spicy Vinaigrette. Top with the toasted pine nuts, golden raisins and slivered basil. Taste, and adds salt and pepper as needed.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
161kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
17g
(6%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
(18%)
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Sodium
141mg
(6%)
Potassium
217mg
(5%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
12g
(24%)
Vitamin A
361IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
17mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 as a side
Amount Per Serving
Calories 161
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 161kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 17g | 6% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Sodium | 141mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 217mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Vitamin A | 361IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 17mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.