Refreshing cucumbers seasoned in a savory, spicy, garlicky sauce. This quick and easy spicy smacked cucumber salad recipe uses minimal ingredients and is ready in 10 minutes! A delicious vegetable side dish that's budget-friendly, restaurant quality, and meal-prep friendly.
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Spicy Smacked Cucumber Salad (or Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad) features crunchy cucumbers dressed in a garlicky and savory sauce with chili oil and a hint of sesame.
This is a popular cucumber dish in Sichuan cuisine that originates from China. Other Asian cultures also have their own version of cucumber salad using other ingredients.
I love enjoying this Chinese-style cucumber dish with steamed rice and a protein dish.
It's a simple vegetable recipe that you can prepare 1-2 days in advance, store it in the fridge, and enjoy chilled on busy weeknights.
You can also use store-bought chili oil or homemade Chili Oil for this recipe. Alternatively, if you prefer it mild, feel free to omit the chili oil altogether.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Mini Cucumbers (aka Persian Cucumbers): These are ideal for that crunchy texture and thin skin. Or use English cucumbers or a seedless cucumber with a thin skin.
- Salt: Table salt, sea salt, or kosher salt will all work.
Dressing
- Regular Soy Sauce: Or use low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Feel free to omit if you're allergic.
- Chinese Black Vinegar: A mild vinegar made of fermented black glutinous rice. I like using the brand "Chinkiang Vinegar" available at the Asian market. Or use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: Feel free to omit if you're allergic.
- White Granulated Sugar: Or use cane sugar.
- Fresh Garlic Cloves: Avoid substituting with garlic powder.
- Chinese Chili Oil: Or use chili crisp, or red chili flakes and add 1 tablespoon of neutral oil. I like using the brand "La Gao Ma".
Note: Asian ingredients are typically available at most Asian grocery stores, or check online.
Variation
- Gluten-free version: Replace the soy sauce with tamari sauce, coconut aminos, or a gluten-free soy sauce. Use rice vinegar instead of Chinese black vinegar. Make sure to use gluten-free chili oil by checking the label.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh, vibrant mini cucumbers with firm, tight skin. Older cucumbers tend to taste slightly bitter and won't be as crisp.
- Smack the cucumbers hard to split it down the middle so it can better absorb the dressing.
- Don't skip the salting process as this makes the cucumbers crunchier! The salt forces the water out of the cucumbers through osmosis.
- Thoroughly rinse the cucumbers of salt or the salad will taste too salty.
- Strain out excess liquids after rinsing the cucumbers or the excess liquid will dilute the dressing.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make spicy smacked cucumber salad:
- Smash the cucumbers: Slice off the ends of the mini cucumbers. Then with the side of the knife, smash the cucumbers until they’re slightly flattened and split down the middle. Don't over-smash.
- Chop cucumbers: Then chop the cucumbers on an angle into ¾-inch wide strips.
- Salt cucumbers: Then transfer the sliced cucumbers to a large bowl. Add the salt and gently massage it into the cucumbers. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes to draw out excess liquid, then discard the released liquid.
- Rinse the cucumbers: Rinse the cucumbers under cold running water a few times to remove excess salt.
- Strain cucumbers: Next, strain the cucumbers and shake out any excess water.
- Dress the cucumbers: Add the dressing ingredients as listed above to the cucumbers and mix well. Enjoy as is, or chill in the fridge for 1 hour before enjoying.
Storage
- Spicy smacked cucumber salad can last up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Note: Over time, the cucumbers will become saltier, so it's best to enjoy this dish fresh.
- Spicy smacked cucumber salad is not ideal for freezing because the cucumbers will become mushy.
Pairing Suggestions
Spicy smacked cucumber salad pairs well with:
- Starters: Egg rolls, Crab rangoon, Egg drop soup, or Hot and sour soup.
- Rice Dishes: White rice, brown rice, or fried rice.
- Noodle Dishes: Chow mein, Lo mein, Plain noodles, or Soup noodles.
- Protein Dishes: Kung Pao Chicken, Beef with Black Bean Sauce, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Egg Foo Young, Soy Garlic Tofu, and more!
FAQ
Spicy smacked cucumber salad can be made up to 1-3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
You'll need to smash the cucumbers hard enough, so that they split down the middle. Avoid over smashing it or it can turn to mush. Please refer to my video below for a demonstration.
Yes. Thick-skinned cucumbers can be used for this recipe as long as they're seedless. Be sure to peel off the skin before smashing them.
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📖 Recipe
10-min. Easy Spicy Smacked Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 6 mini cucumbers
- ½ teaspoon salt to drain water
Dressing
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1.5 tablespoon sesame oil toasted
- 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar or rice vinegar / apple cider vinegar
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds toasted
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar or cane sugar
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon Chinese chili oil
Instructions
- Slice off the ends of the mini cucumbers. Then with the side of the knife, smash cucumbers until they’re slightly flattened and split down the middle. Don't over-smash.
- Then chop the cucumbers on an angle into ¾-inch wide strips.
- Then transfer the sliced cucumbers to a large bowl. Add the salt and gently massage it into the cucumbers. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes to draw out excess liquid, then discard the released liquid.
- Rinse the cucumbers under cold running water a few times to remove excess salt.
- Next, strain the cucumbers and shake out any excess water.
- Add the dressing ingredients as listed above to the cucumbers and mix well. Enjoy as is, or chill in the fridge for 1 hour before enjoying.
Millie
Another keeper!! So flavourful. My new way favourite way of enjoying cucumbers
Christie Lai
So glad you liked it! Thank you so much for making it.
Tamara
Super easy and yummy, even though I made some substitution as I made do with what I had in my pantry: regular cucumber instead of mini, didn't salt the cucumber, just used them straight thinly sliced. Didn't have chili oil so used chirrata sauce and didn't add sugar since chirrata is already sweet.
I added green onion cut thinly, and fresh steemed green beans cut in small pieces.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing this review with substitutes! Glad it worked out well 🙂
Evylyn
Delicious! Thank you for sharing.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing your positive review with me!
Dave
I had this at a local place and it was so good. So found your recipe and oh my, pretty much spot on flavors to what I had. Thanks
Christie Lai
This made me so happy to read! Glad it hit the spot and is restaurant quality 🙂
Katy
So good! Love the crunchiness of the cucumbers and the sauce just is perfect. For fun I tried Trader Joe’s Japanese multipurpose seasoning that has black and white sesame seeds, nori and kelp powder in, and it was also really great with these smashed cucumbers.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Katy! I'm so glad you enjoyed it with the seasoning as well!
Dale
Not just this recipe, but I think I am going to enjoy you. I was a prairie meat & potatoes guy (and miss meat so much) I have a young E.Indian lad living in my home (I cook-he manages my property). Some of their spices are too strong for me - I love curry's. As I grew up, it was Chinese, Italian, Greek, eventually Thai etc - Indian is great - just not every day. Nick will eat chicken (protein need) but I yearn for a ribeye - just don't want to cook two dinners. I think your Kung Pao Chicken with rice will suit us both, this as a side dish - sounds really good to me. I will follow your other dishes. Sorry for my entire history - HaHa!
Christie Lai
Haha thanks for your comment and for sharing! I hope you enjoy my recipes specifically this one which is a hit on the blog!
Rory
So good, and so simple! We tend to double the recipe, they are just that good!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe in the past and glad you love it so much! Have a wonderful day, Rory!
Ben
Incredibly flavourful and so easy to make! Thank you for this recipe Christie.
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe! Glad you enjoyed it! ☺️
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Your idea to add some heat and some sweet to raw cucumbers is so good. This is the perfect way to dress up cucumbers for the summer!