Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad

If you love cucumbers, pickles or even if you don’t. This is by far my favorite snack. The perfect combination of refreshing and savory salty heat. OBSESSED! I still prefer this over Din Tai Fung’s cucumbers.

Ingredients

  • 4 Persian Cucumbers, sliced in 1/4 in pieces
  • 3/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup green onion , green part only finely sliced
  • 1 tsp white sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp black sesame seeds


  • 2 tbsp of Rice Vinegar
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 and 1/2 tsp of Mirin
  • 1 tbsp of soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp of minced garlic
  • 2 tsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper

Instructions

SMASH & SALT CUCUMBERS

  • Smash – Hit cucumbers with a meat mallet, rolling pin or similar to make the sides burst open. Cut in half lengthwise then into 2.5cm/1" pieces.
  • Salt 30 min – Place in a bowl, toss with salt. Set aside for 30 minutes to draw out water ( Drain/strain and discard salty water, leave cucumbers in same bowl.

SALAD

  • Whisk Dressing in a bowl.
  • Toss – Put green onion, sesame seeds, dressing in with the cucumbers. Toss for 30 seconds.
  • Chill, let sit over night for pickling and flavors to come out.
  • Serve, sprinkled with extra sesame seeds and dollops of chili crisp for extra heat!