This smashed cucumber salad is the perfect summer side dish when the weather heats up. To make it, lightly smash Persian cucumbers and dress them with a garlicky soy mixture. Finish the dish with plenty of fresh cilantro and a drizzle of chili crisp. The finished smashed cucumber salad is tangy, salty, sweet, and totally delicious.
Why Do You Smash the Cucumbers?
Smashing the cucumbers in this Chinese cucumber salad recipe helps achieve the perfect texture. When smashed, the cucumbers have nooks and crannies that soak up every bit of the savory sauce. To smash the cucumbers, you can use the side of your knife, a skillet, or even a rolling pin or wooden mallet.
Smashed Cucumber Salad Ingredients
There are just a handful of ingredients you need to make this refreshing cucumber salad recipe.
- Cucumbers: Our Test Kitchen recommends using small Persian cucumbers as they have the most tender texture and sweet flavor. You can also use one large English cucumber that's cut into smaller pieces before smashing.
- Soy Sauce: A splash of soy sauce gives this salad recipe its salty, savory flavor.
- Chili Crisp: Add texture and spicy with a few spoonful's of chili crisp. You can make your own using our easy chili crisp with garlic recipe or purchase a bottle from the store.
- Sesame Oil: A drizzle of sesame oil goes a long way. As much as we love substitutes here at BHG, for a better flavor, avoid substituting olive oil for sesame oil. The nutty flavor of sesame oil lends itself better to dishes like this smashed cucumber salad. When there are only a few ingredients, each one counts towards creating a well balanced dish.
- Cilantro: Finish the dish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. If you're not a fan, you can leave it out of the finished dish.
How to Serve Smashed Cucumber Salad
This dish's light, tangy flavor with just the right amount of crunch pairs well with a heartier main course. Make it alongside this Chicken Lo Mein or our Chinese Take-Out Chili Crisps Casserole. If you're looking for a lighter, snack-inspired meal, try these Tofu Spring Rolls and Asian-Style Chicken Lettuce Wraps. However, if you feel like branching out on your own, don't worry—this recipe is versatile and will complement almost any dish that your heart desires.
Ingredients
-
4 small Persian cucumbers or 1 large English cucumber
-
1 Tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce
-
2 tsp. rice vinegar
-
3 cloves garlic, minced
-
1 tsp. sugar
-
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
-
⅛ tsp. kosher salt
-
2 Tbsp chili crisp
-
Toasted sesame seeds
-
Chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
-
Place cucumbers on a cutting board and smash lengthwise using the bottom of a skillet, until the cucumber is split open from end to end. If you're having trouble keeping them in one place, try cutting them in half length-wise so they can lay flat.
-
Roughly chop into bite-size pieces. For a more natural and fragmented look, you can go ahead and break them apart with your hands.
-
In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, sugar, and sesame oil to make the dressing.
-
Toss cucumbers in dressing. Season with salt. Garnish with chili crisp, sesame seeds, and cilantro (if using). Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 143 | Calories |
| 11g | Fat |
| 10g | Carbs |
| 3g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 4 | |
| Calories 142.7 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 11.4g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat 1.6g | 8% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 173.1mg | 8% |
| Total Carbohydrate 9.6g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber 1.9g | 7% |
| Total Sugars 3.7g | |
| Protein 2.7g | 5% |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Vitamin C 5.2mg | 6% |
| Calcium 100.9mg | 8% |
| Iron 1.6mg | 9% |
| Potassium 290.1mg | 6% |
| Fatty acids, total trans 0g | |
| Vitamin D 0IU | |
| Alanine 0.1g | |
| Arginine 0.3g | |
| Ash 1.5g | |
| Aspartic acid 0.2g | |
| Caffeine 0mg | |
| Carotene, alpha 17.4mcg | |
| Choline, total 11.2mg | |
| Copper, Cu 0.2mg | |
| Cystine 0g | |
| Energy 600.7kJ | |
| Fluoride, F 2.1mcg | |
| Folate, total 19.8mcg | |
| Glutamic acid 0.7g | |
| Glycine 0.1g | |
| Histidine 0.1g | |
| Isoleucine 0.1g | |
| Leucine 0.2g | |
| Lysine 0.1g | |
| Methionine 0.1g | |
| Magnesium, Mg 49mg | |
| Manganese, Mn 0.4mg | |
| Niacin 0.5mg | |
| Phosphorus, P 93mg | |
| Pantothenic acid 0.4mg | |
| Phenylalanine 0.1g | |
| Phytosterols 46.7mg | |
| Proline 0.1g | |
| Retinol 0mcg | |
| Selenium, Se 3.3mcg | |
| Serine 0.1g | |
| Starch 1.3g | |
| Theobromine 0mg | |
| Threonine 0.1g | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 1.1mg | |
| Tryptophan 0g | |
| Tyrosine 0.1g | |
| Valine 0.1g | |
| Vitamin A, IU 211.9IU | |
| Vitamin A, RAE 10.2mcg | |
| Vitamin B-12 0mcg | |
| Vitamin B-6 0.2mg | |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 30.2mcg | |
| Water 157.1g | |
| Zinc, Zn 0.9mg | |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
