Chinese Spicy Smashed Cucumber (Printable)

Refreshing smashed cucumbers tossed in a zesty soy-garlic dressing with sesame oil and chili flakes.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers, ends trimmed (approximately 1.1 lbs)
02 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
06 - 1 to 2 teaspoons chili flakes, to taste
07 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
08 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

10 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
11 - Fresh cilantro leaves, optional

# Preparation steps:

01 - Place cucumbers on a cutting board and gently smash with the flat side of a knife until cracked. Tear or chop into bite-sized chunks.
02 - Transfer cucumber pieces to a colander, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 10 minutes to draw out excess water. Drain and pat dry gently with paper towels.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, chili flakes, minced garlic, and sugar until sugar is dissolved.
04 - Add the drained cucumbers and sliced scallions to the dressing and toss thoroughly to coat.
05 - Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and optional fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately or chill for 10 to 15 minutes to enhance flavors.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes with zero cooking, perfect for hot days when your kitchen feels like an oven.
  • The smashing technique releases flavors and creates an addictive texture that regular sliced cucumbers can't match.
  • One bowl, a knife, and a whisk—this is as fuss-free as elegant food gets.
02 -
  • Do not skip the salting and draining step, no matter how much you want to speed things up—it's the difference between refreshing and watery.
  • Sesame oil is potent; start with 1 tablespoon and taste before adding more, or you'll end up with something that tastes like a bottle instead of a balanced salad.
03 -
  • If you can't find toasted sesame oil, you can lightly toast regular sesame oil yourself over low heat, but watch it carefully—it burns faster than you'd expect.
  • For extra heat without overwhelming the other flavors, drizzle a touch of chili oil over the finished salad instead of relying only on chili flakes.
Go back