Smashed Cucumber Salad

This addictive & delicious spicy smashed cucumber salad is super easy to make and tastes so light, refreshing, and flavorful. 

My friend has made a version of this salad for a few years and it’s always so fresh and delicious. I slightly adapted a smashed cucumber salad recipe that I found on the Food Network and it turned out really tasty. This recipe for smashed cucumber salad is fun & simple to make and it pairs nicely with most any Asian entrée.

How to Make a Smashed Cucumber Salad

Make the vinaigrette by combining the seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and minced garlic together in a small glass jar. Seal tightly with a lid and shake well; set aside to allow flavors time to mingle.

Prepare the cucumber by quartering the cucumber lengthwise. Place the slices on the cutting board seed side down and lightly smash the skin side of the cucumber with the flat side of your knife, then slice them into 3/4-inch long pieces.

Toss the smashed cucumber pieces with salt and place them into a colander in the sink to drain for 20 minutes.

Prepare the salad  by pouring the well-shaken vinaigrette on top then season with crushed red pepper flakes, to taste; toss to coat evenly. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Toss and serve. Enjoy.

Smashed Cucumber Salad

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Draining/Marinating Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Asian

Servings: 4

Author: Adapted by Pam - For the Love of Cooking / Original by the Food Network

Equipment

• Small Glass Jar with Lid
• Chef's Knife

Ingredients

Vinaigrette:

• 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 clove of garlic, minced

Salad:

• 1 English cucumber
• ¼ tsp salt
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions

• Make the vinaigrette by combining the seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and minced garlic together in a small glass jar. Seal tightly with a lid and shake well; set aside to allow flavors time to mingle. 
• Prepare the cucumber by quartering the cucumber lengthwise. Place the slices on the cutting board seed side down and lightly smash the skin side of the cucumber with the flat side of your knife, then slice them into 3/4-inch long pieces. 
• Toss the smashed cucumber pieces with salt and place them into a colander in the sink to drain for 20 minutes.  
• Prepare the salad  by pouring the well-shaken vinaigrette on top then season with crushed red pepper flakes, to taste; toss to coat evenly. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Toss and serve. Enjoy. 

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