Smashed Cucumber & Tomato Salad Recipe
Smashed Cucumber & Tomato Salad is a refreshing, easy-to-make summertime dish featuring crunchy cucumbers and juicy tomatoes dressed in a tangy mixture of Chinkiang vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic. Perfect as a cool side dish, it delivers bold flavors with minimal effort and can be made vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic-friendly.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins (including resting time)
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Chinese-inspired
- Diet: Diabetic
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 2 large English cucumbers
- 2 large tomatoes, sliced into wedges
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced watermelon radish
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
Seasonings & Oils
- 2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 tablespoon Chinkiang vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (canola or avocado)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Herbs
- ⅓ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare Cucumbers: Peel 2 cucumbers lengthwise, leaving alternating stripes on the skin. Halve the cucumbers lengthwise, then cut into ½-inch diagonal slices. Smash each slice gently with the side of a chef’s knife or a rolling pin just until the skin starts to crack.
- Salt and Drain: Place the smashed cucumber pieces in a strainer and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well and let them stand for 20 minutes to draw out excess moisture.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt until dissolved.
- Prepare Garlic Oil: In a separate small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon neutral oil with minced garlic and set aside.
- Rinse and Combine: Rinse the salted cucumbers under cold water, then shake off excess water and transfer them to a large bowl. Add tomato wedges, watermelon radish, and red onion slices.
- Add Oils and Toss: Drizzle the garlic oil over the vegetables and toss to coat evenly. Then add the vinegar dressing and toss thoroughly again.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro just before serving for fresh aroma and crunch.
Notes
- Chinkiang vinegar adds distinctive tang and depth; if unavailable, substitute with rice vinegar.
- Smashing cucumbers helps absorb flavors better and enhances texture.
- Reduce or omit sugar to make it lower calorie or diabetic-friendly.
- Best served chilled for maximum freshness and crunch.
Find it online: http://bitezly.com/smashed-cucumber-and-tomato-salad-recipe/
