Chinese Spicy Smashed Cucumber (Printable)

Crisp smashed cucumbers tossed in a zesty soy and sesame dressing with a spicy kick.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers (about 1.1 lbs), ends trimmed
02 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
06 - 1–2 teaspoons chili flakes, adjusted to taste
07 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
08 - 1 teaspoon sugar
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

10 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
11 - Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Place cucumbers on a cutting board and gently smash with the flat side of a knife until cracked and split; tear or cut into bite-sized chunks.
02 - Transfer smashed cucumbers to a colander, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, chili flakes, minced garlic, and sugar until sugar dissolves.
04 - Add drained cucumbers and sliced scallions to the dressing. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
05 - Transfer salad to a serving dish. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and garnish with fresh cilantro if desired. Serve immediately or chill for 10–15 minutes to enhance flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The violent smashing technique creates craggy surfaces that drink up the spicy garlicky dressing like tiny flavor sponges
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes flat but tastes like something that required serious planning and effort
02 -
  • Do not skip the salting step unless you want a watery puddle at the bottom of your serving bowl within minutes
  • Smashing works better than slicing because it creates irregular surfaces that hold onto the dressing instead of letting it slide right off
03 -
  • Use a rolling pin or meat mallet if you worry about smashing cucumbers with your knife
  • Cut the cucumbers on a slight diagonal to create more surface area for the dressing to cling onto
Go Back