Smashed Cucumber Salad is a light and refreshing summer dish tossed with an easy tahini miso dressing. Perfect for hot days, this unique salad adds a vibrant touch to any meal.
Try my copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad next. And check out my Tomato Lentil Salad with Feta and Tomato Salad with Cilantro-Mint Dressing for more delicious salad recipes.
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Stay cool as a cucumber with this smashed cucumber salad with tahini miso dressing. Smashed (also called Smacked) Cucumber Salad–Pai Huang Gua–is a Chinese side dish, typically served alongside meals. Its flavors traditionally entail garlic, Chinese black vinegar–known as Chinkiang–, Sichuan peppercorns, dried chilies, and seasonings.
My version calls for smashed cucumbers topped with a nutty and umami-flavored dressing and homemade chili oil. It’s refreshing, spicy, and absolutely delicious!
Why This Recipe Works
- Perfect Summer Dish – Cucumber is one of the most hydrating vegetables you can eat, making it perfect for hot weather. It’s in season from May through August, so you’ll get the best quality produce for your salad during these months.
- Versatile – I’ve served this as an appetizer but it also works as a side dish or an entree; just pile more in your bowl!
- Quick & Easy – Made with simple ingredients and a straightforward process, making this salad is a breeze. Prepare it in just 10 minutes (with 20 minutes set aside for salting — a hands-off process).
Why do people smash cucumbers?
Smashing cucumbers helps loosen their flesh, allowing them to better absorb the flavors of the dressing or sauce. Personally, I like the varied textures that smashing lends to cucumbers.
How to Smash Cucumbers
This recipe calls for a technique known as “smashing” or “smacking” cucumbers prior to adding dressing. Cucumbers are smacked using the back of a knife or rolling pin, causing the cucumber to crack, or split into smaller pieces.
Tools You’ll Need
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Rolling pin
- Strainer
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients You Will Need for Asian Cucumber Salad
Here is a breakdown of what you will need to make this Chinese-inspired smashed cucumber salad. For actual measurements, see the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Persian cucumbers – This type of cucumbers are great to use for this salad. Due to its thinner skin, you don’t have to smack too hard in order to smash it.
- Kosher salt – I use Diamond Crystal brand to draw moisture out of the cucumbers, for a crisp, crunchy texture.
Dressing
- Tahini – This adds a rich, creamy texture and a nutty flavor to the dressing, perfectly complementing the fresh cucumbers.
- White miso – For this recipe, I go for white miso as it’s great for use in light sauces, dressings, and even marinades. The flavor profile of white miso is slightly sweet and nutty, which is ideal for this smashed cucumber salad and also pairs well with tahini. You can find it at most Japanese or Asian markets.
- Ginger – Grated fresh ginger adds a zesty, slightly spicy kick to the dressing
- Garlic clove – Grated garlic infuses the dressing with a robust, savory, garlicky depth.
- Rice vinegar – This adds a tangy, slightly sweet acidity to the dressing, which helps to balance the creamy tahini and nutty miso.
- Sesame oil – This adds a toasty element that deepens the taste of the tahini, for even more rich, nutty notes.
- Warm water – I use water to thin out the dressing until I reach the perfect consistency.
- Sugar – Balance those savory notes with a touch of sweetness.
Garnish
- Shallot ginger chili oil
- Roasted sesame seeds
How To Make Smashed Cucumber Salad
Below is a summary of how to make cucumber salad. For a complete and detailed list of steps, see the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Cut cucumbers diagonally lengthwise. Then place them cut side down on a cutting board.
- Using the flat side of a chef’s knife or a rolling pin, smack the back of each cucumber until it splits. Slice diagonally into ½ inch pieces and place in a strainer and add kosher salt.
- Mix cucumber well with hands and set aside (with a bowl underneath to catch water) for 20 minutes.
- Start on dressing while waiting on cucumbers.
Tahini Miso Dressing
- Add all dressing ingredients to a bowl. Mix well until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.
Assemble Smashed Cucumber Salad
- Make sure cucumbers are thoroughly drained. Then plaace cucumbers in a bowl.
- Start with 2 tablespoons of tahini-miso dressing. Mix well and taste. Add more dressing is desired. Top with homemade chili oil and roasted sesame seeds.
- Serve immediately.
Tips and Tricks
- Salt your cucumbers. It is an easy technique that will yield crunchy and even more flavorful cucumbers. It draws out excess moisture from the vegetable, enchancing the crunch factor. While it isn’t necessary, I prefer it because cucumbers release water once sliced. Incorporating the salting technique is convenient and makes for a less watered down salad dressing.
- Don’t want to salt your cucumbers? Should you decide to skip that step, simply wait to add the tahini-miso dressing until ready to serve. As sliced cucumbers sit, water draws out. If you pour dressing over cucumbers and leave it to sit, the dressing will water down, and no one wants that.
- Don’t smack too hard when smashing cucumbers. Opt for the flat side of a chef’s knife or a rolling pin. Cut cucumbers in half lengthwise, and proceed with smacking the skin side with your tool of choice. Pay attention to how much force you apply to each blow. Too hard and the cucumber will split into small pieces. Aim for splitting cucumber while loosely maintaining its structure.
- Store leftover smashed cucumber salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last 3-4 days.
Variations
- Cucumbers – English cucumbers is another slicing cucumber that would work for this recipe.
- Dressing – Try adding a splash of soy sauce or tamari for extra umami flavor, or use lemon juice instead of rice vinegar for a citrusy twist.
- Nuts – I suggest seseame seeds as a topping but you could swap it for chopped peanuts for a stronger nutty flavor and more crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you keep cucumber salad from getting soggy?
To keep cucumber salad from getting soggy, salt the cucumbers and let them sit in a strainer for about 20 minutes to draw out excess moisture. This step helps maintain a crisp texture by removing water that would otherwise dilute the dressing and make the cucumbers soft.
How to mash up cucumber?
To smash cucumbers, cut them diagonally lengthwise and place the cut side down on a cutting board. Use the flat side of a chef’s knife or a rolling pin to firmly smack the back of each cucumber until it splits, then slice them diagonally into ½ inch pieces.
What can I serve with smashed cucumber salad?
Because it’s so refreshing, this dish pairs well with spicy foods. Try pairing it with Sweet and Spicy Gochujang Wings, Wontons in Chili Oil, or Thai-Style Baby Back Ribs. For something more mild, serve it alongside a noodle dish like Cold Sesame Noodles or Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles.
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Smashed Cucumber Salad with Tahini Miso Dressing
Equipment
- Chef's Knife
- Rolling Pin
- strainer
Ingredients
- 1 pound Persian cucumbers
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal brand
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 teaspoons white miso
- ½ teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 small garlic clove, grated
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2½ teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon warm water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon shallot ginger chili oil
- 1½ teaspoons roasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cut cucumbers diagonally lengthwise. Then place them cut side down on a cutting board.
- Using the flat side of a chef’s knife or a rolling pin, smack the back of each cucumber until it splits. Slice diagonally into ½ inch pieces and place in a strainer and add kosher salt.
- Mix cucumber well with hands and set aside (with a bowl underneath to catch water) for 20 minutes.
- Start on dressing while waiting on cucumbers.
Tahini Miso Dressing
- Add all dressing ingredients to a bowl. Mix well until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.
Assemble Smashed Cucumber Salad
- Make sure cucumbers are thoroughly drained. Then plaace cucumbers in a bowl.
- Start with 2 tablespoons of tahini-miso dressing. Mix well and taste. Add more dressing is desired. Top with homemade chili oil and roasted sesame seeds.
- Serve immediately.
