Description
This Sichuan Smashed Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish with a spicy kick. Crispy cucumbers are combined with garlic, cilantro, and a tangy Sichuan sauce, then topped with crunchy peanuts for the perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Cucumber:
- 1 medium English cucumber
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Dressing:
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 to 3 sprigs fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Sichuan Sauce for Salad
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon regular or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon spicy sesame oil or toasted sesame oil
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts
Instructions
- Prepare Cucumber: Crush the cucumber with a knife, cut into pieces, and toss with salt. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Prepare Dressing: Chop garlic and cilantro. Combine with sugar, Sichuan sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
- Assemble Salad: Drain cucumber, add garlic-cilantro mixture, and dressing. Toss well.
- Garnish: Top with roasted peanuts.
Notes
- This salad can be made a day ahead for enhanced flavors.
- Add peanuts just before serving.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 102
- Sugar: 8.2 g
- Sodium: 208.4 mg
- Fat: 5.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 11.5 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 2.2 g
