Smashed cucumber salad(拍黃瓜) is a refreshing Sichuan side dish made with smashed cucumber pieces and dressing. This easy dish is popular and common throughout China.

Typically, smashed cucumber salad uses long cucumber varieties with few seeds and thin dark skin, like english cucumbers. A simple dressing is made from garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar. Chili and sesame may be optionally added.

To smash the cucumber, use the edge of a large knife or another broad, flat object to smack it until it breaks lengthwise into pieces. It is best to put sectioned cucumber in a bag while smashing to avoid a mess.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 english cucumber(黃瓜), trimmed and cut into 1½” – 3″ sections
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce(生抽)
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar(香醋)
• 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
• 1 – 2 dried chili, crushed (optional)
• 1 tsp sichuan peppercorn water (optional)

Directions

• smash cucumber (place in plastic bag to reduce mess) with edge of knife or other object until sections break into pieces
• mix in garlic, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil
• serve