I made this cold cucumber salad as a side dish a few days ago and got a flood of comments asking what smacked cucumber is. It's a Chinese dish where you smack a cucumber with the flat of a knife until the juices start flowing and the cucumber splits. You then roughly chop it up and toss it in a vinegar and garlic-based sauce. It's delicious, healthy, and refreshing, especially in the summertime. I don't even really like cucumbers but for some reason I've always liked smacked cucumbers. It comes together quickly and I encourage you to try it.
Sweet and Sour Smacked Cucumbers
(Recipe from Eileen Likes to Eat)
- 1 English cucumber
- Heaping 1/4 tsp table salt
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp Chinkiang vinegar
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chili oil
- Lay the cucumber on a chopping board and smack it hard several with the flat side of a knife. The flesh should start to crack a bit. Cut the cucumber roughly into bite-sized pieces.
- Sprinkle salt over the cucumber and toss to combine. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. While it sits, combine the garlic, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil in a small bowl.
- Drain the cucumber, toss with sauce, let sit for another 5 minutes, preferably in the fridge.
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