Chinese Spicy Smashed Cucumber (Printable Format)

Crisp smashed cucumbers tossed in zesty soy-garlic dressing with sesame oil and chili flakes for bold flavor.

# What's Needed:

→ 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 (adjust 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 they crack and split, then 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 gently pat dry with paper towels.
03 - Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili flakes, minced garlic, and sugar in a large bowl until sugar dissolves.
04 - Add drained cucumbers and sliced scallions to the dressing bowl, tossing thoroughly to coat evenly.
05 - Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and optional cilantro leaves over the top. Serve immediately or chill for 10–15 minutes to enhance flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smashing technique creates incredible texture—craggy edges that catch the dressing in ways thin slices never could.
  • It takes fifteen minutes from start to table, making it perfect for those moments when you need something fresh but have zero patience.
  • The heat builds slowly and unapologetically, letting you control exactly how much kick you want.
02 -
  • If you skip the salting step, your salad will be watery and disappointing—I learned this the hard way by thinking I could save time.
  • The dressing gets more peppery and complex after sitting for even just five minutes, so taste as you go and don't add more chili flakes until you've given it a chance to settle.
03 -
  • Smash your cucumbers just before you want to eat them; they start surrendering their crispness the moment they're cut.
  • If your kitchen is cold, let the salad sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving so the sesame oil flavor opens up instead of sitting tight and closed.
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