Smashed Cucumber Salad
China's pai huang gua — cucumbers smashed with the flat of a cleaver so they crack open, salted to draw out water, then tossed in garlic, black vinegar, soy and chilli oil that cling to every ragged edge.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 600 g thin-skinned cucumbers
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Chinkiang black vinegar
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp chilli oil, with its sediment
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Nutrition (estimated)
high confidenceRecipe total: 335 kcal · P 8.2g · C 34.9g · F 20.8g
Estimated from 9 of 9 ingredients
Approximate estimate, calculated from the ingredients.
Video
Steps
Steps
- 1Wash the cucumbers, trim the ends and halve them lengthways if thick. Lay them cut side down on a board, place the flat of a cleaver or large knife on top and strike it with your palm until they crack and split along their length.
- 2Cut them on the diagonal into bite-sized pieces of about 3 cm. The rough, cracked surfaces are the point of the dish — they grab the dressing far better than clean slices.
- 3Toss the cucumbers with the salt in a colander and leave for 15 minutes to draw out water. Discard the liquid and pat them dry — skip this and the dressing turns watery.
- 4In a bowl mix the garlic, sugar, black vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and chilli oil until the sugar dissolves.
- 5Toss the cucumbers with the dressing just before serving, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and serve cold.
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Questions and answers
How long does Smashed Cucumber Salad take to make?
About 20 minutes.
What ingredients do you need for Smashed Cucumber Salad?
9 ingredients: thin-skinned cucumbers, salt, sugar, garlic cloves, Chinkiang black vinegar, light soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, chilli oil, toasted sesame seeds.
How many servings does this Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe make?
4 servings. The servings buttons above the ingredients rescale every amount.
How many calories are in a serving of Smashed Cucumber Salad?
About 84 kcal, with 2 g protein, 8.7 g carbohydrate and 5.2 g fat. This is an estimate from the ingredients, not a lab analysis.
Which diets does this Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe suit?
It is vegan.
What cuisine is Smashed Cucumber Salad?
Smashed Cucumber Salad comes from Chinese cuisine.
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