This smashed cucumber salad recipe cracks cucumbers so they take up vinegar and garlic. It is not creamy coleslaw and not macaroni salad.
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Smashed Cucumber Salad
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Smashed cucumber salad with garlic and vinegar. From Olivia at Flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds (680g) Persian or English cucumbers
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon chili crisp or red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Smack cucumbers with the side of a knife until they crack. Tear them into bite-size pieces.
- Toss with salt and rest 10 minutes. Pour off the water.
- Stir garlic, vinegar, soy, sugar, sesame oil, and chili. Toss with the cucumbers.
- Finish with sesame seeds. Serve cold within an hour.
Notes
Salting pulls water out so the dressing stays bright. Skip this and the salad goes watery in the bowl.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Cucumber, not slaw
Coleslaw is cabbage and mayonnaise. This is a sharp cucumber side.
Substitutions
Apple cider vinegar works if you do not have rice vinegar. Use a little less.
Mistakes to avoid
Leaving the salted water in the bowl dilutes the dressing.
Storage
Best the same day. Refrigerate overnight if you must. The cucumbers soften.
Nutrition (estimated)
About 60 calories per serving. Estimate only, not a lab test.
FAQ
Which cucumbers?
Persian or English. Thick-skinned slicing cucumbers need peeling and seeding.
How smashed?
Cracked, not pureed. You want ragged edges.
Make it milder?
Skip the chili. The garlic and vinegar still carry it.
A day ahead?
Salt and drain ahead. Dress within an hour of serving.