Smacked Cucumber in Garlicky Sauce (Suan Ni Pai Huan Gua)

Step 1

1 Lay the cucumber on a chopping board and smack it hard a few times with the flat blade of a Chinese cleaver or with a rolling pin

Step 2

2 Then cut it, lengthways, into four pieces

Step 3

3 Hold your knife at an angle to the chopping board and cut the cucumber on the diagonal into 1/8- to 3/8-inch slices

Step 4

4 Place in a bowl with the salt, mix well and set aside for about 10 minutes

Step 5

5 Combine all the other ingredients (garlic, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, chile oil and Sichuan pepper, if using) in a small bowl

Step 6

6 Drain the cucumber, pour the sauce over them, stir well and serve