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5 from 4 votes

Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad

This Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad combines crisp cucumbers with sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, and a touch of heat for a refreshing side dish that's packed with flavor and ready in minutes.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cucumber picnic salad, smashed cucumbers, spicy cucumber salad
Servings: 4
Author: Peter | Simple Nourished Living

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2-3 teaspoons Sambal Oelek (or chili garlic sauce)
  • 1/2 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.

Notes

Serving size: About 3/4 cup
WW Points: 1
Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
1 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Recipe Notes

Why smash the cucumbers?
Smashing breaks down the interior structure of the cucumber and creates lots of rough edges that absorb the dressing much better than smooth slices.
The result is a salad that's more flavorful and more interesting in texture.
You can easily customize the recipe with additions such as:
  • Thinly sliced green onions
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Fresh mint
  • Crushed peanuts
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Thinly sliced radishes
For a milder salad, simply reduce the amount of Sambal Oelek or chili garlic sauce.

How to Toast Sesame Seeds

To toast your sesame seeds, add them to a small skillet and heat over med

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4th recipe (about 3/4 cup) | Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.5g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 2.6g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 416mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.4mg