Smashed Cucumber Salad

Smashed cucumber salad is an unusual way to prepare familiar cucumbers in a Chinese style, and smashed cucumber salad is especially good for kebabs or a picnic. Smashed cucumber salad is served as a cold appetiser or side dish, and smashed cucumber salad keeps the cucumbers crisp while giving them a bright, savoury, slightly spicy character. Smashed cucumber salad needs only 10 minutes of active preparation, but smashed cucumber salad also needs time to stand so the marinade can soak in.

The flavour of smashed cucumber salad works because each main ingredient has a clear job. Cucumbers stay fresh and crunchy, and lightly crushing cucumbers helps the surface crack so the dressing can cling to the pieces better. Soy sauce brings saltiness and depth, sesame oil gives the salad its recognisable Asian aroma, garlic adds sharpness, and coriander adds a fresh herbal note. Sesame seeds give a light nutty finish, and green onion is added at serving for extra freshness if desired.

The main thing to watch in smashed cucumber salad is how much the cucumbers are crushed and how long the cucumbers stand in the marinade. The cucumbers should be only lightly smashed, just enough for them to crack rather than turn soft or watery. After shaking the cucumbers with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and coriander in a closed container, leave the cucumbers at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The smashed cucumber salad is ready when the cucumbers are seasoned through but still crunchy.

The swaps for smashed cucumber salad are minimal, because the recipe is built on a very short list of ingredients. Green onion is optional in the original method, so smashed cucumber salad can be served without green onion if preferred. If the cucumbers are very long, simply cut the cucumbers in half before crushing them, because that is part of the method and helps the pieces fit into the container more easily. The coriander, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil and sesame seeds are what create the characteristic flavour, so the recipe keeps the strongest Asian accent when those ingredients stay in place.

Smashed cucumber salad should be served simply, because smashed cucumber salad is finished with only a small garnish. Serve smashed cucumber salad after the resting time, sprinkled with chopped green onion if using and sesame seeds. Smashed cucumber salad makes an excellent partner for grilled meat, especially kebabs, and smashed cucumber salad also suits other picnic food because it is refreshing and savoury at the same time.

Smashed cucumber salad should be kept in a container in the refrigerator. Store smashed cucumber salad in the same container used for marinating, with the lid on, so the cucumbers stay seasoned and do not pick up other odours. Smashed cucumber salad is at its best after the standing time and while the cucumbers are still crisp. The source notes only to store smashed cucumber salad in the refrigerator, so refrigeration is the key keeping instruction for the finished dish.

Questions about this recipe

How long do smashed cucumbers need to marinate?

Smashed cucumbers need to stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour at room temperature. Smashed cucumbers are ready when the cucumbers are seasoned through but still crunchy.

Do I have to add green onion to smashed cucumber salad?

Green onion is optional in smashed cucumber salad. Smashed cucumber salad can be served with chopped green onion for extra freshness, or smashed cucumber salad can be finished only with sesame seeds.

How hard should I smash the cucumbers?

Cucumbers should be smashed only lightly, just enough for the cucumbers to crack. Lightly smashed cucumbers hold the marinade well, while heavily smashed cucumbers can become too soft and watery.

How do I store smashed cucumber salad?

Store smashed cucumber salad in a closed container in the refrigerator. Smashed cucumber salad is best while the cucumbers are still crisp and well coated in the marinade.