More Than Our Story

Chinese Cucumber Salad

Chinese Cucumber Salad.

Total Time: 40 minutes (Prep: 10 minutes, Stand: 30 minutes)

Yields: 6-8 servings

Plant-Based

Table of Contents

Inspiration

Known for its balance of tangy, spicy, and sweet flavors, Chinese cucumber salad (拍黄瓜) is a crunchy, refreshing dish commonly served as a cold appetizer in Chinese cuisine. The cucumbers are typically smashed, helping them absorb the dressing. It can be eaten immediately, but trust us; you’ll want to let it soak in all the delicious flavors. 

Ingredients

  • 2 large cucumbers (preferably English or Persian)
  • Sea salt, pinch

Dressing

  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon chili oil or red pepper flakes (adjust to your spice level)
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon sugar

Garnishes

  • Fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Preparations

Prepare the Cucumbers

  1. Wash and trim the ends of the cucumbers.
  2. Smash the cucumbers lightly with a rolling pin or the side of a knife to break them open, then cut them into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Place the cucumber pieces in a bowl, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and toss. 
  4. Let sit for 20 minutes.

Make the Dressing

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.

Assemble the Salad

  1. Rinse cucumbers to remove excess salt, and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Toss the cucumbers with the dressing until well-coated.
  3. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and cilantro.

Chill and Serve

  1. Let the salad sit for 10 minutes (or longer) for the flavors to meld. Then, place it in the fridge to serve chilled.
  2. Serve.

Tips

  • This dish is best eaten immediately but can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.
Picture of Daniel

Daniel

Daniel is an extremely curious person, a wealth of random knowledge and facts. Extremely passionate about a vast array of interests ranging from health to history, science to athletics, everything culinary and the list goes on. Trust us, you would want to be on his team for Trivial Pursuit. Daniel is also years into his battle with brain cancer. He experienced a seizure while on a Zoom call at work in late 2020 and quite literally, his life changed within minutes. After his operation he started to talk about his story but had always known it was more than just him. From then, More Than Our Story became a PROJECT that has evolved into the starting point it is today.

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