Sesame and Garlic Cucumbers (Chinese cucumber salad)

Always order smashed garlic cucumbers

In China, no plate of dumplings would be complete without a side of sesame and garlic smashed cucumbers to go with it.  It’s refreshing, it pairs well with a steaming plate of dumplings and since it is quick and easy to put together, this dish is always the fist to arrive and first to be devoured.

 

a mound of smashed Chinese cucumber salad tossed with sesame oil, garlic and vinegar

 

Chinese cucumber salad makes a great kid food

Most of all I fondly remember this Chinese cucumber salad as being a big hit with kids as it was often served with dumplings for either lunch or dinner.  When so many times, I found myself battling with my students to eat their vegetables, I never had a problem getting any of my students to finish their cucumbers at lunchtime.

One little boy was especially fond of it, scarfing it down in a matter of seconds.  In fact, we couldn’t dish them out fast enough.  We always ran out of cucumbers before we ran out of dumplings.  AND honestly, why wouldn’t they like it?  Crushed cucumber, seasoned with salt, a touch of sesame oil and black vinegar-I’d happily devour that. In fact, I still do.

Serve either as a cool vegetable side dish for when the weather is hot or as a starter to dumplings.  I guarantee you’ll be equally as fond.

 

a mound of smashed Chinese cucumber salad tossed with sesame oil, garlic and vinegar

 

 

three cucumbers on a cutting board
Wash and dry the cucumbers. You can use any type of cucumber you like but if you choose the prickly type, I highly recommend peeling them first.
three smashed cucumbers on a cutting board
Take a rolling pin and roll it over the cucumbers, smashing them in the process.
chopped smashed cucumber
Roughly chop them up with a knife into bite-sized pieces then transfer them to a bowl.
chopped smashed Chinese cucumber salad with minced garlic, vinegar and sesame oil
Top with minced garlic, rice vinegar and sesame oil. Toss to combine and season with sea salt to taste. Be light-handed with the sesame oil. A little goes a long way.

 

 

 

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
a mound of smashed Chinese cucumber salad tossed with sesame oil, garlic and vinegar

Sesame and Garlic Cucumbers


  • Author: Spicepaw
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 3-4 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Smashed cucumber with garlic, sesame oil and Chinese black vinegar. Serve this authentic Chinese cucumber salad with dumplings for a tasty meal. #chinesefoodrecipes #salad #cucumber #healthy #recipe


Ingredients

Scale

    • 23 small /medium-sized cucumbers
    • 23 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 tbsp sesame oil
    • 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar or rice vinegar (whichever you have handy)
    • sea salt

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry the cucumbers.
  2. Take a rolling pin and roll it over the cucumbers, smashing them in the process.
  3. Roughly chop then up with a knife into bite-sized pieces then transfer to a bowl.
  4. Top with minced garlic, rice vinegar and sesame oil.
  5. Toss to combine and season with sea salt to taste.
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Category: Vegetables, salad
  • Method: Salad
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Keywords: Chinese, cucumber, salad, garlic, sesame oil

Easy peasy vegetable recipes:

Sumac Roasted Vegetables with Feta and Lemon

Quick and Easy “Throw it Together” Minted Peas

Roasted Pear and Bleu Cheese Salad with Cashews

Author: Natasha

I'm just a busy expat mom who has a psychological need to feed people. I enjoy learning about new cultures, (especially the food) and enjoy experimenting with new ingredients and spices

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.