Smashed Spicy Cucumber Salad
This quick and easy cucumber salad is perfect for a refreshing appetizer or as a side-dish with a kick. Enjoy the crunchiness of smashed cucumbers combined with the bold flavors of the spicy chili oil! 🥒🌶️ ✨
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 ½ tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp chili oil
- 1 ½ tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- green onions for garnish
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Cucumbers: Clean and cut the English cucumber into coins or you can cut into cool designs or spiral, if desired. To smash the cucumbers, lay them on a cutting board, and using the back of a knife or a rolling pin, gently smash them to break into bite-sized pieces.
- Toss with Salt: Toss the smashed cucumbers with 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt and let them sit for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps draw out excess moisture.
- Rinse and Pat Dry: Rinse the cucumbers with cold water to remove excess salt and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Prepare Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, chili oil (ensure you grab a good ratio of ingredients and oil), sugar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds.
- Pour Sauce and Let Sit: Pour the sauce over the smashed cucumbers and toss well to coat. Let the salad sit for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the salad with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Enjoy: Serve the Smash Spicy Cucumber Salad immediately and enjoy the refreshing and spicy flavors! Great as an appetizer.