Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad

WW Recipe of the Day: Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad

This simple cucumber salad pairs well with anything from the grill—from burgers, to chicken breast to fish. Smashing the cucumbers before chopping them into pieces does required a little extra effort, but honestly not that much. And it's a lot more fun too!

Spiced sesame cucumber salad

Why even bother to smash the cucumbers? Why not just slice them?

Smashing your cucumbers before slicing allows them to absorb more of the flavors in the Sambal Oelek (or the chili garlic sauce), vinegar, sesame oil and garlic. The internal structure of the cuke is essentially softened and mangled, resulting in lots of jagged and rough edges, more natural cucumber juice being released and more surface area for soaking up additional flavors.

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Low Carb Spiced Cucumber Salad?

According to my calculations, each serving has 33 calories and:

1 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
1 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
1 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
1 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!

How to Make Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad

Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients.

Ready to make spicy cucumber salad

Step 2: Whisk the rice vinegar, sesame oil, Sambal oelek, salt and garlic in a medium mixing bowl.

Whisking the spicy dressing

Step 3: Place cutting board (affiliate link) on a solid, flat surface. Remove ends from one cucumber. Place flat edge of chef's knife (affiliate link) over entire cucumber

Ready to "smash" the cucumbers

and press down hard (using both hands and full bodyweight, if necessary, being careful to avoid the knife slipping)

Pressing down to "smash" the mini cucumber

until the cucumber breaks into 4 or 5 jagged lengthwise pieces.

Smashed cucumber

Separate these pieces and crosscut them into 1-inch chunks. Repeat with remaining cucumbers.

Step 4: Combine the cucumber chunks with the dressing and toss until thoroughly coated.

Mixing the chopped cucumber with the spicy dressing

Step 5: If not serving right away, cover and chill in the refrigerator.

Step 6: Before serving, sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the top.

Spiced cucumber salad with toasted sesame seeds

Step 7: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

Either Sambal Oelek or Chili Garlic Sauce works well in this recipe. They are very similar, except for the addition of garlic in the chili garlic sauce. Both of these sauces are a bit more chunky than Sriracha and much less processed.

Sambal Oelek and Chili Garlic Sauce

To toast your sesame seeds, add them to a small skillet and heat over medium heat until golden (stirring continuously to prevent burning), about 4 to 5 minutes.

Toasting sesame seeds in skillet

Alternatively, you can place your sesame seeds in a small rimmed baking dish and heat in the toaster oven, or oven, until golden brown, stirring occasionally to keep them from burning.

Serving Suggestions

Makes a great addition to any barbecue or potluck table. Pairs well with your favorites from the grill—burgers, chicken breast, fish, etc.

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5 from 3 votes

Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad

Cool and crunchy, this spicy smashed cucumber salad is the perfect warm weather side dish for your favorite grilled meats.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Servings (adjustable): 4

Calories: 33

Author: Peter | Simple Nourished Living

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• ▢ 2-3 teaspoons Sambal Oelek (or chili garlic sauce)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
• ▢ 1 pound mini Persian cucumbers
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

• Whisk the rice vinegar, sesame oil, Sambal oelek, salt and garlic in a medium mixing bowl.
• Place cutting board on a solid, flat surface. Remove ends from one cucumber. Place flat edge of chef's knife over entire cucumber and press down hard (using both hands and full bodyweight, if necessary, being careful to avoid the knife slipping) until the cucumber breaks into 4 or 5 jagged lengthwise peices. Separate these piecess and crosscut them into 1-inch chunks. Repeat with remaining cucumbers.
• Combine the cucumber pieces with the dressing and toss until thoroughly coated.
• Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the top and serve.
• If not serving right away, cover and chill in the refrigerator.
• Before serving, sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the top.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Equipment

Chef Knife

Cutting Board

Silicone Whisk

Recipe Notes

Either Sambal Oelek or Chili Garlic Sauce works well in this recipe. They are very similar, except for the addition of garlic in the chili garlic sauce. Both of these sauces are a bit more chunky than Sriracha and much less processed.

To toast your sesame seeds, add them to a small skillet and heat over medium heat until golden (stirring continuously to prevent burning), about 4 to 5 minutes.

Serving size: About ¾ cup

Click here to see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site.

1 *SmartPoints (Green plan)

1 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)

1 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)

1 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

Nutrition Facts

Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad

Amount Per Serving (1 /4th recipe (about ¾ cup))

Calories 33 Calories from Fat 23

% Daily Value*

Fat 2.6g4%

Carbohydrates 1.5g1%

Fiber 0.6g2%

Protein 0.2g0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cucumber picnic salad, smashed cucumbers, spicy cucumber salad

Did you make this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving on Instagram and tag #simplenourishedliving - we love to see your creations!

Recipe source: Weight Watchers

*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.

If you like this Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad, you might also like

• WW Sliced Cucumber Salad
• Simply Filling Orange Cucumber Salad
• Layered Mediterranean Salad
• WW Friendly Cucumber Melon Salad

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