Best 7 Smashed Cucumber Salad Recipes

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Smashed cucumber salad is a refreshing and flavorful side dish that is perfect for summer gatherings or as a light lunch. The combination of crisp cucumbers, tangy dressing, and fresh herbs makes this salad a delightful and healthy option. With just a few simple ingredients and a few minutes of preparation, you can enjoy this delicious salad in no time. Whether you're looking for a side dish to complement your favorite grilled meats or a light and refreshing snack, smashed cucumber salad is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD



Smashed Cucumber Salad image

Provided by Trisha Yearwood

Categories     side-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 medium English cucumbers
Kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 small clove garlic, finely grated
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes, optional

Steps:

  • Quarter the cucumbers lengthwise. Put the slices on a cutting board, skin-side-up. Use the flat side of your knife to lightly smash along the length, then cut the cucumbers into 3/4-inch pieces. Toss the cucumbers with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and sugar, then drain in a colander for 20 minutes.
  • Whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and remaining 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Add the cucumbers and toss to coat. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, if using.

SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD RECIPE BY TASTY



Smashed Cucumber Salad Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: medium english cucumbers, red onion, kosher salt, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, red pepper flake

Provided by Betsy Carter

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 medium english cucumbers
1 tablespoon red onion, minced
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
½ teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
red pepper flake, to taste

Steps:

  • Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, smash the cucumbers, then slice into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl.
  • Add the red onion, salt, and sugar, and toss to combine.
  • In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
  • Drizzle the dressing over the cucumbers, then toss to coat.
  • Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and red pepper flakes.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 56 calories, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, Sugar 4 grams

SMASHED CHINESE CUCUMBER SALAD



Smashed Chinese Cucumber Salad image

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

1 pound Persian or mini cucumbers
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red chile flakes
Toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro, for garnish

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.

SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD



Smashed Cucumber Salad image

This refreshing, flavorful salad stars Chinese black vinegar with light soy sauce as its milder sidekick. Smashed cucumber salad (pai huang gua in Mandarin) is a staple side dish in many Chinese restaurants, and I've often ordered it along with soup dumplings for a light meal. Chinese black vinegar has a deep and slightly smoky flavor, mild acidity and faint sweetness. The salad usually includes garlic and sesame seeds or sesame oil, and some variations add chiles or Sichuan peppercorn; this version uses gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) for a touch of heat, which isn't traditional but gives the salad a nice red hue and balanced spiciness. Smashing the cucumber helps to create jagged edges so there is more surface area to absorb the dressing, while salting the cucumber softens the skin, firms up the flesh and releases some water, concentrating the cucumber's flavor.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 firm English cucumber (about 14 ounces)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as vegetable, canola or grapeseed
1 small shallot, peeled and thinly sliced into half-moons (about 1/4 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes), or to taste
2 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar, such as Chinkiang Vinegar
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Steps:

  • Partially peel the cucumbers by removing alternate strips of the skin with a vegetable peeler. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, then use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Smash the cucumber with a flat side of a cleaver or large knife or a rolling pin or meat mallet until it is flattened with jagged edges. Split each cucumber half in half again lengthwise. Cut the strips into 1-inch pieces diagonally.
  • Toss the cucumber and salt together in a medium bowl. Let sit at room temperature until the cucumber releases some water, about 1 hour.
  • Meanwhile, combine the oil, shallot and garlic in a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the shallot is translucent, about 2 minutes. Mix in the gochugaru and allow it to bloom in the oil. Stir the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds together in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
  • Strain the cucumbers and dry them with a paper towel. Return them to the medium bowl. Add the vinegar mixture and toss. Toss again with the garlic-shallot oil. Garnish with the remaining sesame seeds and the cilantro.

SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD WITH MINT



Smashed Cucumber Salad with Mint image

Provided by Molly Yeh

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 Persian cucumbers
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons za'atar
2 radishes, thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Place the cucumbers in a large ziptop bag and smash them with a heavy skillet. Chop into 3/4-inch pieces, place in a colander with a pinch of salt and let sit for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the lemon juice and onion and let sit until the cucumbers are ready.
  • Add the cucumbers to the bowl with the onion. Toss with the mint, olive oil, za'atar, radishes and a few turns of pepper. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

PESTO-RUBBED BAKED SALMON WITH SMASHED CUCUMBER AND GREEN APPLE SALAD



Pesto-Rubbed Baked Salmon with Smashed Cucumber and Green Apple Salad image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Unsalted butter, softened, as needed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Six 6-ounce skinless salmon fillets, preferably wild
3 tablespoons prepared pesto
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 English cucumber, peeled
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup finely diced pitted Medjool dates (about 6)
2 green apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Juice of 1 lemon

Steps:

  • For the salmon: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
  • Brush a baking dish with a thin coat of softened butter and sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the surface. Set the salmon fillets upright (flat-side down) on the baking dish, brush a little soft butter over each fillet and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the pesto, mustard and lemon juice together and season it with salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture evenly over the salmon, covering the top surface only. Bake until the desired doneness, about 14 minutes for medium rare for 1 1/2-inch-thick fillets (cook longer for thicker pieces).
  • For the salad: Meanwhile, put the cucumber into a clean towel on a cutting board and smash it with the heel of your hand. Unwrap the cucumber and slice it crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces; transfer them to a mixing bowl and sprinkle a little salt over them. Add the dates and apples and stir to mix. Add the pine nuts, olive oil, mint and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper, and toss until evenly combined.
  • Serve the salmon fillets on warm plates with the salad on the side.

SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD



Smashed Cucumber Salad image

By crushing our cucumber before we cut it, we produce flavors that un-smashed cukes can't. When you crush the cells in a vegetable, as opposed to cutting cleanly through them, certain compounds get mixed together, which can result in a significantly different flavor. In cucumbers this is a good thing--onions, not so much. But this salad is one of my all-time favorite cold summer side dishes. The only decision you're going to have to make is how long to let the cucumbers marinate--half an hour or so or not at all.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Salad     Vegetable Salad Recipes     Cucumber Salad Recipes

Time 1h15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 English cucumbers
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
2 cloves garlic, finely crushed
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Red pepper flakes to taste
2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

Steps:

  • Wrap each cucumber in plastic wrap to minimize splattering. Place on a work surface and pound with a flat object (like a meat pounder) until cucumbers crack and are slightly flattened. Remove from plastic. Cut cucumbers in half; halve each side lengthwise. Slice into 1- to 1 1/2 -inch wide slices. Transfer to a strainer set over a bowl.
  • Sprinkle cucumber with sugar and salt; mix until well combined. Refrigerate bowl and strainer for 30 to 60 minutes so cucumber pieces can drain into the bowl.
  • Place garlic, seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Whisk together thoroughly.
  • Transfer drained cucumbers into bowl with dressing. Toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate for about 30 minutes to allow flavors to mingle.
  • Place cucumbers in serving bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 28.5 calories, Carbohydrate 3.5 g, Fat 1.4 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 1.3 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 530.2 mg, Sugar 1.7 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right cucumbers: For the best results, use fresh, firm cucumbers that are free of blemishes. English or Persian cucumbers are ideal for this salad because they have fewer seeds and a milder flavor.
  • Slice the cucumbers evenly: This will help them cook evenly and absorb the dressing better. You can use a mandoline or a sharp knife to slice the cucumbers.
  • Don't overcook the cucumbers: The cucumbers should be cooked just until they are tender-crisp. Overcooking will make them mushy.
  • Use a flavorful dressing: The dressing is what really makes this salad shine. Be sure to use a dressing that is flavorful and well-balanced. A simple vinaigrette or a yogurt-based dressing are both good options.
  • Add some fresh herbs: Fresh herbs, such as dill, cilantro, or mint, can add a nice pop of flavor to the salad. Chop them finely and stir them in just before serving.

Conclusion:

Smashed cucumber salad is a refreshing and flavorful side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its bright flavors and crisp texture, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

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