The Viral Smashed Cucumber Salad | Best Summer Salad to Beat the Heat!
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2-3 Servings
 
Ingredients
  • Cucumber - 4 to 5
  • Toasted sesame seeds - ½ tsp
  • Freshly chopped coriander leaves to garnish
For salad dressing:
  • Garlic - 8 to 10 cloves, finely minced
  • Light Soy sauce - 2 tsp
  • Rice vinegar - 2 tsp
  • Sesame oil - 2 tsp
  • Brown sugar - 2 tsp
  • Chilli oil - 2 tbsp
  • Salt - 1 tsp
Instructions
  1. If you are using European cucumbers, then you don't need to peel them. Wash them thoroughly by rubbing the outer exterior with your hands to remove any dirt.
  2. Pat them dry and place on a cutting board. Now using a mallet or a heavy knife start smashing the cucumber one by one.
  3. You don't need to completely mash up the cucumbers but break them randomly as you see in the video.
  4. Then cut each cucumber into small pieces. Transfer all the pieces to a mixing bowl.
  5. Sprinkle about a teaspoon of salt over the cucumbers and give a good stir using a spatula.
  6. Then leave the seasoned cucumbers on the kitchen counter for 15 minutes keeping the bowl covered. This will extract the moisture from the cucumbers.
  7. Meanwhile, prepare the salad dressing by mixing in a small bowl all the salad dressing ingredients - minced garlic, light Soy sauce, rice vinegar, chilli oil, sesame oil and brown sugar.
  8. Give a good whisk to make a homogeneous mixture. Set it aside.
  9. After about 15 minutes, uncover the bowl with smashed cucumbers and drain out all the released water.
  10. Then take a kitchen towel and gently pat the cucumbers to soak up any excess moisture from the cucumbers.
  11. Once you are happy with the cucumbers, start drizzling the prepared salad dressing 2 tablespoons at a time and give a good stir after each addition.
  12. For the amount of cucumbers I used, I added 4 tablespoons of the salad dressing which was good enough for my liking; too much dressing would turn the salad soggy.
  13. Your smashed cucumber salad is ready! Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top and garnish with fresh coriander leaves! Enjoy!
Recipe by Flavor Quotient at https://flavorquotient.com/2025/07/the-viral-smashed-cucumber-salad/