Chinese smashed cucumber salad
Rise from the smashes
What is Chinese smashed cucumber salad?
Chinese smashed cucumber salad is a refreshing, crunchy dish that’s taken the internet by storm! 🥒💥 Lightly smashed cucumbers soak up a garlicky, tangy, and umami-packed dressing, making it an irresistible side or snack.
You’ll love it if…
…you want an easy way to elevate cucumbers from simple to spectacular! This Chinese smashed cucumber salad is spicy, garlicky, and incredibly refreshing, perfect for warm days or alongside any meal.
It can be surprisingly tough when you always have a reputation of being very chill. Cucumber hasn’t done that much to deserve this reputation. I mean sure, he’s 96% water and he’s associated with spas and skincare, but cucumber has hard days too. And when he loses his temper, everyone acts so surprised. “What happened to cool as a cucumber?” they say, mockingly.
You know who has the opposite problem? Chilli pepper. Chillies are expected to be fiery, but honestly chilli is a pretty chilled out dude. Just don’t touch your eyes. He hates that.
In this Chinese smashed cucumber salad chilli and cucumber get together, and they’re comfortable enough to just be their true selves. Sometimes chill, sometimes fiery. A little salty, a bit sour. Just cukes and peppers living their best lives. Because we contain multitudes – so does this salad.
Gather the Ingredients and Smash the Cucumber
Use a rolling pin, cleaver, or pan to smash the cucumbers, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Sprinkle with salt, toss, and let them drain for 20 minutes.
Make the Dressing
Mix all the dressing ingredients, tasting and adjusting seasoning as needed.
Final Touches and Serving
Drain the cucumbers, toss them with the dressing, and serve for a refreshing crunch.
- Salt first, then drain. Sprinkle salt on the smashed cucumbers and let them sit for 20 minutes. This draws out excess water, so they stay crisp and don’t water down your dressing.
- Vinegar. Chinkiang black vinegar gives the best balance of tang and depth. If you can’t find it, a dark vinegar like malt vinegar or apple cider vinegar works too.
- Let it sit. This salad gets better after 20–30 minutes in the fridge. The flavours meld, and the cucumbers soak up every bit of that garlicky, sesame-spiked dressing.
Chinese smashed cucumber salad
Ingredients
- 4 cucumbers
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon chinese black vinegar / malt vinegar you can also use Apple Cider Vinegar or any dark vinegar
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly chopped chillies optional (the chef has used red chillies)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons spring onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon honey
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Smash the cucumbers with a rolling pin or the back of pan or a cleaver.
- Once smashed, roughly chop into smaller pieces.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, toss and set aside for 20 minutes to let it drain.
- Mix all the dressing ingredients together and check and adjust seasoning.
- Once the cucumbers have drained mix the dressing ingredients into the cucumbers and serve.
Video
FAQ
Smashing creates rough edges and cracks that soak up the dressing way better than clean cuts. It also gives the cucumbers a great mix of crunch and tenderness.
Salt them first! Sprinkle salt on the smashed cucumbers and let them sit for 15-20 minutes, then drain off the excess water before adding the dressing.
Yes, but it’s best eaten within a few hours. If you make it ahead, store the cucumbers and dressing separately and mix just before serving.
Chinkiang black vinegar gives the best balance of tang and depth. If you can’t find it, a dark vinegar like malt vinegar or apple cider vinegar works too.
Try topping it with extra toasted sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, or a drizzle of chilli oil for extra crunch and heat. You can also throw in fresh herbs like cilantro for a pop of freshness.
