Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad (Pai Huang Gua)

Step 1

Place cucumber on chopping board.

Step 2

Use a heavy object like a mallet or cleaver to smash the cucumbers.

Step 3

Once the cucumber cracks and splits, you can stop smashing.

Step 4

Then slice the cucumber on a diagonal into bite sized chunks.

Step 5

Place in a mixing bowl and add salt.

Step 6

Mix and let it sit for at least 10 minutes to draw out the excess moisture.

Step 7

Drain excess water and place cucumber back in bowl ready to be dressed.

Step 8

Finely chop or grate garlic.

Step 9

In a small mixing bowl, add chopped garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and sugar together.

Step 10

Mix well until sugar has dissolved.

Step 11

Add salad dressing over the smashed cucumber. Mix well.

Step 12

Transfer to serving bowl. Add chilli oil if you prefer a spicy version.

Step 13

Serve.