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Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP cucumber salad.
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5 from 7 votes

Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad (Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP)

Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad is the perfect year-round Paleo/Whole30/Keto side dish. The cucumbers are crunchy and garlicky. Every bite is so refreshing. Add this Chinese Cucumber Salad to your everyday easy homemade meal. They will bring new exciting flavor to your dinner table ! 
Course Side Dish, vegetable
Cuisine Chinese, Taiwanese
Keyword Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 16 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 17kcal
Author ChihYu

Ingredients

  • 14 Oz. Persian mini cucumbers (alt. 1 large English cucumber)
  • 1/2 + 1/8 tsp Coarse sea salt
  • 1/2 tbsp Grated garlic
  • 4 tsp Rice vinegar (alt. 3 tsp apple cider vinegar)
  • 1-2 tsp Toasted sesame oil (optional)

Instructions

  • Rinse and pat dry the cucumbers. Cut each piece in half lengthwise. Use a small teaspoon to scoop out the seeds. Set the seeds aside for another use.  
    Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP cucumber salad.
  • Roughly chop the cucumbers in diagonal shape (about 1.5-inch length). You want to create some uneven angles. They don’t need to be in uniform shape. Place the chopped cucumbers in a large ziplock bag. Seal the bag and lightly smash the cucumbers with a flat bottom bottle or meat pounder. The skin will begin to crack.
    Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP cucumber salad.
  • Sprinkle ½ + ⅛ tsp coarse salt and use your hands to gently rub the salt into each cucumber pieces. Sat them aside in the fridge for 15 minutes (up to 30 minutes). Discard the water. There’s no need to rinse the cucumbers. 
    Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP cucumber salad.
  • Toss the cucumbers with grated garlic, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. Taste and make seasoning adjustments (more salt, garlic, or vinegar) to your liking. Best serve immediately chilled or store extra in the fridge and finish them the next day. 
    Easy Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP cucumber salad.

Video

Notes

This dish tastes better when it’s freshly made. If you happen to make extra, store them in the fridge. I recommend finishing them the next day. You’ll notice some liquid in the container after sitting in the fridge overnight but it should not affect the taste.
 
When smash the cucumbers, some parts will crack while others won’t. Try not to smash them too hard or they will become a mushy mess.

Nutrition

Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 145mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Vitamin C: 3.1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.3mg