Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜)

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 7 minutes
• total time: 7 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound Persian cucumbers (washed)

½ teaspoon Kosher salt (if using fine salt, use a little less)

1 clove garlic (minced or paste)

1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar

2 teaspoons soy sauce (we used light sodium)

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon Chinese chili oil (more or less depending on your preference)

2 tablespoons cilantro (chopped (about 3 to 4 sprigs; optional but highly recommended)

Directions

Cut the ends off of each cucumber and smash them, one at a time, with the flat side of your knife. Smash them until the cucumbers crack. They don't have to be totally broken apart. *Do use a knife with a thick blade, like a cleaver or chef's knife.*

Cut the smashed cucumbers diagonally, into bite size pieces. Then, place them in a bowl. Sprinkle the salt over the cucumbers and give them a couple mixes. Let the cucumbers salt for about 5 minutes, then drain the cucumber juice. You don't have to rinse the cucumbers.

Add the remaining ingredients to the cucumbers (garlic, black vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, chili oil, and cilantro). Give everything a good mix and serve immediately.

Nutrition

• Calories: 42 kcal
• Total Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Sodium: 461 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 6 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Total Sugars: 3 g
• Protein: 1 g