{"id":28293,"date":"2023-01-08T14:42:39","date_gmt":"2023-01-08T09:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tashasartisanfoods.com\/blog\/?p=28293"},"modified":"2024-09-06T19:39:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T14:09:48","slug":"smashed-asian-cucumber-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tashasartisanfoods.com\/blog\/smashed-asian-cucumber-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Smashed Asian Cucumber Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Crunchy, crispy, and with the cleanest flavor, smashed Asian cucumber salad is the best cucumber salad to have for lunch, dinner, or any time of the day as a snack. You just can\u2019t mess up this fresh salad because, besides smashed cucumbers, it asks for so few ingredients!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Smashed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the heavy-duty holiday baking, our souls and stomachs were craving cleaner and lighter food. And an Asian cucumber salad made the perfect foil to the binge fest of December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cucumber salad in winter?<\/em> I know most of you are zapped. Bear with me and try the smashed cucumber salad just once, and you'll be hooked for life. The cool cucumbers against the backdrop of fiery chili oil and sharp vinegar make it a sensory heaven that you can have all year round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Smashed<\/figure>\n\n\n[feast_advanced_jump_to]\n\n\n

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Why we love the smashed cucumber salad <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A refreshingly saucy salad that you can customize in dozens of ways<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can have it as a lunch salad or as a salad for dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also a perfect complement to any number of meals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick and easy to make<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ingredients<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is crushed cucumber salad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Smashed cucumber is a popular snack across Asia<\/strong>, found almost everywhere from streets to restaurants. The dressing used in the salad changes, giving rise to Korean smashed cucumber salad, cucumber Chinese salad, and even smacked cucumber in Tibet.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What doesn\u2019t change is the process. Instead of cutting the cucumber, the salad relies on whacking it open<\/strong>. When you give the culinary vegetable a good wallop, the skin cracks and the crispy flesh splits into intact chunks mixed with tender rubble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the small, scraggy pieces that make all the delicious difference<\/strong> to the fresh salad because they absorb the flavors<\/strong> of oil, minced garlic, and vinegar lightning fast<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Smashed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to make Asian cucumber salad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1:<\/strong> Wash your cucumbers thoroughly and dry them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2:<\/strong> Lay them down on your counter, skin and all, and with the flat side of a large knife, whack them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Smash<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 3:<\/strong> As you pound the cucumbers, you\u2019ll find they burst open and split into four or so spears. Cut the smashed cucumber into about 1.5-inch pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4:<\/strong> Whisk salt, sugar, light soy sauce, sesame oil, and finely minced garlic with rice vinegar to make the dressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"whisk<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 5<\/strong>: Pour the dressing over the smashed cucumbers and toss to combine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mix<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 6:<\/strong> Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds, drizzle a little chili oil, and garnish with fresh coriander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final step:<\/strong> serve!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Smashed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Recipe variations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n