Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

from recipetineats.com
7 min
7 minutes mins

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!

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)
  • 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)

Directions

  1. 1

    Smash & salt cucumbers

  2. 2

    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.

  3. 3

    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.

  4. 4

    Salad

  5. 5

    Whisk Dressing in a bowl.

  6. 6

    CHECK spiciness of your chilli crisp – they vary by brand. If using Laoganma, stick with recipe, else adjust to taste.

  7. 7

    Toss – Put green onion, eschalots, sesame seeds, dressing and chilli crisp in with the cucumbers. Toss until eschalots go floppy – ~30 seconds.

  8. 8

    Serve, sprinkled with extra sesame seeds and dollops of chilli crisp if you dare!

  9. 9

    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!