Chinese marinated cucumbers, also known as pai huang gua, are a popular side dish or appetizer in Chinese cuisine. These cucumbers are marinated in a flavorful mixture of vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and other spices, resulting in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy dish. They are often served cold and make an excellent accompaniment to various meals, from noodles to rice dishes and grilled meats. If you're looking for a simple yet delicious way to enjoy cucumbers, this recipe for Chinese marinated cucumbers is a must-try.
Here are our top 12 tried and tested recipes!
CHINESE SMASHED CUCUMBERS WITH SESAME OIL AND GARLIC
In China, cucumbers are considered the ideal foil for hot weather and hot food. Versions of this salad, pai huang gua, are served all over the country, sometimes spiked with dried chiles and Sichuan peppercorns for more dimensions of flavor. In Beijing, people buy whole chilled cucumbers from street vendors and munch them on the go, much as Americans become attached to their cups of iced coffee in summer. The smashing process, a classic Chinese technique, cracks the skin, helps release the seeds and splits the flesh into appealing craggy pieces. Salting and chilling the cracked cucumbers give them the perfect cool, crunchy, watery mouth feel.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories salads and dressings, side dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Cut crosswise into pieces about 4 inches long. Cut each piece in half lengthwise.
- On a work surface, place a piece of cucumber (or several) cut side down. Lay the blade of a large knife flat on top the cucumber and smash down lightly with your other hand. The skin will begin to crack, the flesh will break down and the seeds will separate. Repeat until the whole piece is smashed. Break or slice diagonally into bite-size pieces, leaving the seeds behind.
- Place the cucumber pieces in a strainer and toss with a big pinch of salt and a big pinch of sugar. Place a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the cucumbers to serve as a weight and place the strainer over a bowl. Let drain 15 to 30 minutes on the counter, or in the refrigerator until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in sesame oil and soy sauce.
- When ready to serve, shake cucumbers well to drain off any remaining liquid and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with grapeseed or olive oil and toss. Add half the dressing, half the garlic and the red pepper flakes to taste, and toss. Keep adding dressing until cucumbers are well coated but not drowned. Taste and add more pepper flakes and garlic if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds.
CHINESE PICKLED CUCUMBERS (酱黄瓜)
We're adding this recipe for Chinese Pickled Cucumbers to our culinary genealogy. These easy-to-make Chinese Pickled Cucumbers are delicious--and crunchy!
Provided by Judy
Categories Vegetables
Time 1h5m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Rinse off the cucumbers and wipe them dry. Trim off both ends, and cut each cucumber into 4 equal sections. Cut each section into 6 equal-sized strips. Transfer to a bowl and add ½ teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Toss, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- At the same time, make the sauce by combining 2 ½ teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon black vinegar, 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon dark soy sauce, 2 bay leaves, 4 cloves of garlic, and the chili peppers. Stir and make sure the sugar and salt are completed dissolved.
- Once the cucumber has marinated for 1 hour in the fridge, dump out the liquid from the bowl they were sitting in. You should be able to get rid of at least ¼ cup of liquid. Now add the prepared sauce, and mix everything well. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator overnight. The cucumbers should be ready to serve the next morning with a hot bowl of congee!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 58 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 1401 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
SPICY ASIAN CUCUMBERS
This is one of my favorite ways to prepare cucumbers. Very different from the traditional way.
Provided by JOSIE
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes Cucumber Salad Recipes
Time 2h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place cucumbers into a colander, sprinkle with salt, and let drain at least 30 minutes. Shake off excess liquid but don't rinse the cucumbers.
- Whisk soy sauce, sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, hot chili oil, and red pepper flakes in a salad bowl. Stir in cucumbers to coat with dressing. Chill 2 to 3 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75.2 calories, Carbohydrate 12 g, Fat 3.1 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 1.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, Sodium 1393.1 mg, Sugar 6.8 g
CRISP MARINATED CUCUMBERS
My grandma gave me this recipe and I absolutely love it. It's great eating it in the warmer months or any family get-together.
Provided by mistyaikin
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes Cucumber Salad Recipes
Time 8h10m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Whisk vinegar, sugar, salt, and celery seed together in a large bowl; stir in cucumbers and onion. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve cold.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 115.8 calories, Carbohydrate 29.4 g, Fat 0.2 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 0.8 g, Sodium 293.2 mg, Sugar 27 g
ASIAN MARINATED CUCUMBERS
Make and share this Asian Marinated Cucumbers recipe from Food.com.
Provided by FDADELKARIM
Categories Vegetable
Time 10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Peel the cucumbers & cut in half lengthwise then scrape out & discard the seeds. Cut the cucumber into slices & place into a large shallow bowl.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients & pour over the cucumber slices. Stir to coat then cover & refrigerate at least 4 hours.
CHINESE MARINATED CUCUMBERS
Steps:
- 1) Peel and seed cucumber, cut into 2-inch lengths. Mix with salt and 1 tsp. sugar, set aside for 10 min. Whisk remaining ingredients. 2) Rinse, drain, and pat cucumber dry, then toss with dressing. Let stand in fridge for 3 hours - 1 day.
CHINESE SMASHED CUCUMBERS WITH SESAME OIL AND GARLIC
In China, cucumbers are considered the ideal foil for hot weather and hot food. Versions of this salad, pai huang gua, are served all over the country, sometimes spiked with dried chiles and Sichuan peppercorns for more dimensions of flavor. In Beijing, people buy whole chilled cucumbers from street vendors and munch them on the go, much as Americans become attached to their cups of iced coffee in summer. The smashing process, a classic Chinese technique, cracks the skin, helps release the seeds and splits the flesh into appealing craggy pieces. Salting and chilling the cracked cucumbers give them the perfect cool, crunchy, watery mouth feel.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Cut crosswise into pieces about 4 inches long. Cut each piece in half lengthwise.
- On a work surface, place a piece of cucumber (or several) cut side down. Lay the blade of a large knife flat on top the cucumber and smash down lightly with your other hand. The skin will begin to crack, the flesh will break down and the seeds will separate. Repeat until the whole piece is smashed. Break or slice diagonally into bite-size pieces, leaving the seeds behind.
- Place the cucumber pieces in a strainer and toss with a big pinch of salt and a big pinch of sugar. Place a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the cucumbers to serve as a weight and place the strainer over a bowl. Let drain 15 to 30 minutes on the counter, or in the refrigerator until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in sesame oil and soy sauce.
- When ready to serve, shake cucumbers well to drain off any remaining liquid and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with grapeseed or olive oil and toss. Add half the dressing, half the garlic and the red pepper flakes to taste, and toss. Keep adding dressing until cucumbers are well coated but not drowned. Taste and add more pepper flakes and garlic if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds.
SMASHED CHINESE CUCUMBER SALAD
Smashing cucumbers is a delicious and rustically beautiful preparation that is common across Asia. Smashing them creates a variety of different textures, and draining them concentrates the flavor. This is a simple-to-prepare dish but it packs personality!
Provided by Molly Yeh
Time 15m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place the cucumbers in a resealable plastic bag. Seal and use the palm of your hand to lightly smash the cucumbers. Take the cucumbers out of the bag and cut into 1-inch chunks. Add to a bowl and season with salt. Toss to coat.
- Combine the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and chile flakes in a medium bowl. Whisk to dissolve the sugar.
- Add the cucumbers, then toss and garnish with the toasted sesame seeds and cilantro.
MARINATED MUSHROOMS AND CUCUMBERS
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Pare cucumber cut lengthwise into halves and remove seeds. Cut cucumber diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Sprinkle salt over cucumber in small bowl. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Squeeze out excess moisture pat cucumber dry with paper towels. Cut mushrooms into halves toss with vegetable oil. Mix vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, chili paste and sesame oil toss with cucumber and mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour, stirring 1 or 2 times. Drain just before serving. Garnish with chopped green onion if desired.4 servingsFrom "Betty Crocker's New Chinese Cookbook." Text Copyright 2005 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Nutrition Facts : Nutritional Facts Serves
SPICY MARINATED CUCUMBERS (OEE MUCHIM)
These spicy, refreshing cucumbers are a traditional Korean "banchan," or side dish. Danji chef Hooni Kim brines cucumbers in salt before marinating them in Korean red pepper flakes, sugar, and rice vinegar. (Note: Plan ahead for a day of marination.)
Provided by Hooni Kim
Categories side-dish
Time 8h50m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Brine cucumbers: Use a mandoline or a sharp knife to cut the cucumbers into ⅓-inch rounds. Place in a colander fitted over a bowl and add salt; mix well to ensure the cucumbers are evenly salted. Let rest at room temperature to drain, 20 minutes. While they drain, prepare the marinade (Step 2).
- Marinade: In a large bowl, combine the gochugaru, mirin, rice vinegar, sugar, and fish sauce. Smash and peel the garlic, then finely chop. Use the flat part of your knife to press down on the garlic to further break it down, then continue to mince. Add the garlic to the marinade.
- Marinate cucumbers: Rinse all the salt off the cucumbers with cold water. Whisk the marinade, then add the cucumbers; use a large spoon to toss, making sure the cucumbers are evenly coated with marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Cucumbers will have released more liquid, which helps the marinating process. At this point, they're ready to eat; however, refrigerating overnight will round out the flavors. Place the cucumbers, along with some marinade, in a lidded container and store in the fridge overnight; serve cold. (The cucumbers can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, or for as long as the cucumbers remain firm and crunchy.)
P F CHANG'S SHANGHAI CUCUMBERS
This is a copycat recipe off of the P F Changs website. After a single review, it has been determined that the soy sauce and vinegar are out of balance and should be switched around. Use 3 tbsp vinegar to 1 tsp soy sauce.
Provided by Member 610488
Categories Vegetable
Time 15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Mix together the sauce ingredients. Mix sauce together with the cucumbers. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top.
- Can be made ahead of time and chilled.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 24.1, Fat 0.6, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 595.7, Carbohydrate 3.8, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 1.6, Protein 1.7
MARINATED CUCUMBERS
Provided by Marian Burros
Categories easy, quick, side dish
Time 15m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Scrub but do not peel cucumbers. Trim, and slice thinly.
- Wash, trim and slice scallion. Combine with vinegar, sugar and cucumber; stir to season cucumbers.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 40, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 0 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 5 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams
Tips for Making Chinese Marinated Cucumbers:
- Choose cucumbers that are firm and have a deep green color. Avoid cucumbers that are yellow or have blemishes.
- Slice the cucumbers thinly and evenly. This will help them absorb the marinade more evenly.
- Use a variety of seasonings in your marinade. Common ingredients include garlic, ginger, vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite flavor profile.
- Let the cucumbers marinate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve the cucumbers chilled or at room temperature. They are a refreshing side dish or snack.
Conclusion:
Chinese marinated cucumbers are a delicious and easy-to-make side dish or snack. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful dish that will impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy recipe, give Chinese marinated cucumbers a try!
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