Tastenexa
All recipes
Asian
Asian Sesame Cucumber Side
15 min total15 prep0 cook4 servings80 cal
VeganVegetarianContains soyContains sesame
Smashed cucumbers tossed in a savory-sweet dressing of soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, and sesame oil, with a hit of chili for warmth. A refreshing, crunchy side that comes together in minutes.
Ingredients
produce
- 3cucumbers
- 2 clovesgarlic
- 1scallion
pantry
- 2 tbsprice vinegar
- 2 tbspsoy sauce
- 1 tbspsesame oil
- 1 tspsugar
- 1 tspchili oil
- 1 tspsesame seeds
- 0.5 tspsalt
Steps
- Lay the cucumbers on a cutting board and smash them firmly with the flat side of a knife or a rolling pin until they crack.
- Cut the smashed cucumbers into bite-sized pieces.
- Toss the cucumber pieces with the salt in a colander and let drain for 10 minutes, then pat dry.
- Mince the garlic and thinly slice the scallion.
- Whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, and chili oil in a bowl.
- Add the drained cucumbers to the dressing and toss well to coat.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
- Give the cucumbers a final toss before serving.
- Top with sesame seeds and sliced scallion, then serve cold.
Tips
- Smashing the cucumbers instead of slicing them creates jagged surfaces that soak up more dressing.
- Salt the cucumbers briefly and drain off the released liquid so the side stays crisp, not watery.
- Chill the dressed cucumbers for at least 10 minutes for the best flavor and crunch.
- Adjust the chili oil to taste — a little goes a long way.
