Smashed Cucumber Salad with Garlic

Name: Smashed Cucumber Salad with Garlic
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 4 medium cucumbers; 3/4 tsp salt; 4 clove garlic, minced; 1 red chili pepper, minced (optional); 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp sesame oil; 1/2 tsp white sugar; few drops of chili oil; handful of fresh cilantro, for garnish; white sesame seeds, for garnish

by Christian Ou on February 17, 2025

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This Asian smashed cucumber salad with garlic is a simple yet flavorful dish that is perfect for a quick appetizer or side dish. It only takes 15 minutes to make!

If you are looking for a light and refreshing side dish to make, this Asian smashed cucumber salad with garlic is for you! This smashed cucumber salad is packed with tangy, savory, and slightly spicy flavors. Best of all, it requires minimal ingredients and only takes a few minutes to prepare.

Another quick and easy side dish that I love is my chili garlic silken tofu, and pairs well with this garlic shrimp fried rice and chicken with ginger scallion sauce.

What Is Smashed Cucumber Salad?

Smashed cucumber salad is a dish that combines the crunchy freshness of cucumbers with a zingy dressing typically made from garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil. Chinese cucumber salad uses the smashing technique to crack the cucumbers open and releases their natural juices, which blends into the savory dressing. It is often served a a cold appetizer or side dish.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It is crisp, refreshing, and light, which makes this recipe perfect for hot summer days or as a side dish to balance out richer main dishes.
Quick and easy to make with just 4 easy steps.
Packed with flavors from garlic, chili pepper, vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
Cucumbers are low in calories and provides health benefits such as hydration, antioxidant, and helps regular blood sugar levels .

Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make Smashed Cucumber with Garlic:

Cucumbers
Salt
Garlic
Red Chili Pepper (optional)
Soy Sauce
Rice Vinegar
Sesame Oil
White Sugar
Cilantro (for garnish)
White Sesame Seeds (for garnish)

See recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Smashed Cucumber with Garlic

Step 1: Wash the cucumbers and cut off both ends. Smash the cucumbers until they split open. Spoon out any large clumps of seeds, then chop them into big chunks.

Step 2: In a bowl, combine smashed cucumbers with salt. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Drain excess liquid into a separate bowl.

Step 4: Add minced garlic, red chili pepper, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil, and sugar. Toss everything together.

Garnish and Serve

Garnish with a handful of fresh cilantro and sprinkle with white sesame seeds. Serve immediately as a cold appetizer or side dish.

Substitutions

Rice Vinegar – if you don’t have rice vinegar, you can substitute with white vinegar.
Chili Oil – if you don’t have chili oil, you can use crushed red pepper flakes or chili powder for the heat. Omit chili oil if you don’t like spice.
Cucumber – you can use Japanese cucumbers, English cucumbers, or any seedless cucumbers will do. Just make sure they are fresh and crisp. Avoid American cucumbers as they have waxy and more bitter skin.

Storage

It is best to enjoy smashed cucumber salad immediately. However, you can store the leftover chicken in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezing is not recommended as cucumbers have high water content and will become mushy upon thawing.

Tops Tips for Making the Best Smashed Cucumber Salad

Smash Gently. Don’t over-smash the cucumbers. You want the them to break just enough to release their juice but still in large chunks so they maintain their shape and texture. To smash the cucumbers, can use the sides of a knife, a meat mallet, rolling, pin, or pestle.
Use Fresh Cucumbers. For the best crunch, choose fresh Japanese or English Cucumbers.
Let It Marinate. The salt is used to draw out excess fluid from the cucumber.
Adjust to Taste. When you are adding your dressing, taste and adjust based on your preferences. If you are sensitive to spice, omit the chili oil or start with a smaller amount and add more later.

Looking for appetizers? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Smashed Cucumber Salad with Garlic:

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Make sure you also tag me @onehappybite on Instagram and hashtag it #onehappybite so I can see your creations!

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