• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Norecipes - Elevating Everyday Meals

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cuisine
  • Ingredient
  • Type
  • Start Here
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cuisine
    • Ingredient
    • Type
    • Start Here
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Updated: Apr 21, 2023 by Marc · 2 Comments

    Smashed Cucumber Salad

    Crushing cucumbers creates more surface area for dressing to stick to, and my Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe uses this easy technique to make an umami-packed side salad that doubles as a quick pickle.
    Recipe Video Pin
    Crunchy shards of smashed cucumber absorb the nutty sesame dressing like a sponge in this easy Asian cucumber salad.

    Smashed Cucumber Salad originated in China, but it's become a beloved quick pickle that's eaten across eastern Asia. Using a heavy object to smash the cucumber instead of cutting slices with a knife creates a rough surface with small cracks that soak up the flavors of the dressing like a sponge. This makes the prep a cathartic stress reliever while making the recipe come together in just a few minutes.

    Here in Japan, this salad is typically seasoned with toasted sesame oil and soy sauce, but I like to add a ton of toasted sesame seeds to it, adding texture and flavor. 

    Table of contents

    • Why This Recipe Works?
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Smashed Cucumber Salad
    • Serve it With
    • Other Cucumber Salad Recipes

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • Smashing the cucumbers creates jagged edges with fissures that have more surface area for the sauce to cling to. 
    • Salting the cucumbers removes excess water from the cucumbers, which keeps the salad from getting watery while making the cucumbers crunchy. 
    • Combining toasted sesame seeds and toasted sesame oil provides a rich nutty aroma that perfectly contrasts the fresh green flavor of the cucumbers. 
    Smashed cucumbers and nutty sesame seeds make for an easy Japanese cucumber salad that comes together in minutes.

    Ingredients

    • Cucumbers - Cucumbers with soft skin and immature seeds work best for this dish. I used Japanese cucumbers, but Persian cucumbers, Lebanese cucumbers, or small English cucumbers will all work.  
    • Salt - Salting the cucumbers before adding the other seasonings allows osmosis to draw out excess water from the cucumbers. This helps keep your salad from getting soggy while transforming the texture of the smashed cucumbers from crispy to crunchy (like a pickle). For a boost of natural umami, try using my umami salt. 
    • Toasted sesame oil - Toasted sesame oil has a rich nutty aroma that gives this salad its characteristic flavor. It can usually be found in Asian grocery stores or in the ethnic food aisle of Western supermarkets. Another option is to use chili oil.
    • Soy sauce - Soy sauce adds umami and a delightfully earthy flavor that compliments the sesame. Any dark Japanese-style soy sauce like Kikkoman will work. 
    • Toasted sesame seeds - Toasted sesame seeds add a marvelous nutty flavor and fun poppy texture that contrasts nicely with the crunchy smashed cucumbers. I used whole golden sesame seeds, but black sesame or white sesame will work, and you could also grind the seeds to release more flavor (though you'll lose the texture).
    • Optional ingredients: I like adding chili peppers to this salad to give it some heat. I used dried chilies cut into rings, but red pepper flakes or chili powder will work. You could also use a chili paste like sambal oelek or doubanjiang. If chili peppers aren't your thing, black pepper also goes very well with cucumbers. I also sometimes like adding aromatics like grated ginger or garlic. If you like it a little more tart, try adding some rice vinegar or Chinese black vinegar. Finally ¼-1/2 teaspoon sugar can be added to balance out the salt and increase the perceived level of umami. 

    How to Make Smashed Cucumber Salad

    Wash the cucumbers well and then trim the ends off of each one. If your cucumbers have large mature seeds, you'll want to split them in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop them out. 

    Use a rolling pin or other heavy object such as a rolling pin or meat mallet to smash the cucumbers into bite-sized pieces. If some pieces end up too long, you can use your hands to break them into smaller pieces. Add the crushed cucumber pieces to a bowl and toss with the salt. Let this sweat for at least ten minutes. 

    When the cucumbers have begun to go limp, use your hands to scoop them up and squeeze out any excess water. Drain the liquid from the bowl and add the cucumbers along with the toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, toasted sesame seeds, and optional ingredients. 

    Stir everything together, and the salad is ready to serve.

    Serve it With

    This smashed cucumber dish is somewhere between a salad and a pickle and can be served as such, either as a side dish or as an accompaniment to go along with plain white rice. If you're looking for a main dish to pair it with, try my Japanese-style Mapo Tofu, Easy Chicken Teriyaki, or my Stamina Pork Bowl. 

    Crunchy smashed cucumbers dressed with a nutty and spicy sesame sauce.

    Other Cucumber Salad Recipes

    • Sunomono (Vinegared Cucumber Salad)
    • Hiyajiru (Chilled Cucumber Soup)
    • Japanese Cucumber Pickles
    • Cucumber Kimchi

    📖 Recipe

    Crunchy smashed cucumbers dressed with a nutty and spicy sesame sauce.

    Smashed Cucumber Salad

    Not enough ratings yet
    Print Pin Discuss
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Yield 3 servings

    Units

    Ingredients 

    • 325 grams cucumber (3 Japanese cucumbers)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
    • chili flakes (optional, to taste)

    Instructions

    • Trim both ends off the cucumbers and then use a rolling pin or other heavy object to crush the cucumber into bite-size pieces.
      Smashing a cucumber with a rolling pin.
    • Toss the cucumber with the salt and let this sweat for about 10 minutes.
      Salting smashed cucumbers.
    • Once the cucumber has released some water and becomes limp, use your hands to squeeze out any excess water and transfer it to a dry bowl.
      Squeezing excess water out of smashed cucumbers.
    • Add the sesame oil, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and optional ingredients, and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately.
      Smashed cucumbers seasoned with toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, and sesame seeds.
    Recipes in your inboxDon't miss out SIGN UP!

    Nutrition

    Calories 41kcalCarbohydrates 3gProtein 1gFat 3gSaturated Fat 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 1gSodium 308mgPotassium 164mgFiber 1gSugar 2gVitamin A 78IUVitamin C 3mgCalcium 42mgIron 1mg

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




    1. YLK says

      May 16, 2023 at 7:50 am

      "Use a rolling pin or other heavy object such as a meat mallet to smash the cucumbers into bite-sized pieces"

      I used a small 8" cast iron skillet. 🙂

      Reply
      • Marc says

        May 16, 2023 at 8:34 am

        Good idea!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Marc Matsumoto, a retired chef living in Tokyo, and I founded No Recipes to empower home cooks of all levels by sharing essential techniques and my kitchen secrets.

    Start Here →

    Trending Recipes

    • Luxuriously smooth scoop of homemade matcha ice cream.
      Matcha Ice Cream (No-Churn)
    • Edamame
    • Experience the irresistible allure of my butter chicken recipe, showcasing tender chicken pieces swimming in a luxuriously smooth and flavorsome sauce.
      Butter Chicken
    • A glossy mirrorlike shine is the hallmark of any great Japanese chicken teriyaki, and this one comes together from just 4 simple ingredients.
      Authentic Chicken Teriyaki
    • A staple of Chinese-American take-out joints, this Chicken Chow Mein recipe is an easy and delicious one-pan meal.
      Chicken Chow Mein
    • Kung Pao Chicken

    Trending Categories

    • Japanese (Modern)
    • Japanese (Traditional)
    • Japanese (Chinese)
    • Stir Fry
    • Easy Weeknight
    • Rice

    Hi, I'm Marc Matsumoto, a retired chef living in Tokyo, and I founded No Recipes to empower home cooks of all levels by sharing essential techniques and my kitchen secrets.

    Start Here →

    Trending Recipes

    • Luxuriously smooth scoop of homemade matcha ice cream.
      Matcha Ice Cream (No-Churn)
    • Edamame
    • Experience the irresistible allure of my butter chicken recipe, showcasing tender chicken pieces swimming in a luxuriously smooth and flavorsome sauce.
      Butter Chicken
    • A glossy mirrorlike shine is the hallmark of any great Japanese chicken teriyaki, and this one comes together from just 4 simple ingredients.
      Authentic Chicken Teriyaki
    • A staple of Chinese-American take-out joints, this Chicken Chow Mein recipe is an easy and delicious one-pan meal.
      Chicken Chow Mein
    • Kung Pao Chicken

    Trending Categories

    • Japanese (Modern)
    • Japanese (Traditional)
    • Japanese (Chinese)
    • Stir Fry
    • Easy Weeknight
    • Rice

    Footer

    About

    • About
    • Help Me
    • Hire Me
    • Photography
    • FAQs

    Connect

    • Email Updates
    • Contact

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy

    Copyright © 2023 Marc Matsumoto. All rights reserved