Smashed Cucumber Salad

I’m not sure what it is about cucumber salads but I cannot get enough of them. I’ve got and addiction. And this Smashed Cucumber Salad is a go to for me every time that I am jonesing. In my book, it it right up there with Sunomono salad, the King of cucumber salads. The bonus of the smashed cucumber salad is it’s way easier to make and smashing cucumbers helps get some of the day out of your bones. When you put your weight into the broad side of a knife and the cucumber goes squish, well, it’s something that you should all experience. It’s magical.

Anywho, it is a really straight forward salad to make. Now let me break it down…

Ingredients

Persian cucumbers
Salt
Sugar
Sesame Seeds
Red Pepper Flakes

Sauce

2 Part Rice Vinegar
1 Part Honey
1 Part Soy Sauce
1 Part Sesame Oil
Salt to Taste

The How You Do It Part.

Cut the ends off of the CUCUMBERS, and cut them in half longways. Next cut the long CUCUMBER halves into one inch long sections. With the broad side of a knife, apply force into each one inch section, until you hear it squish. You will feel the CUCUMBER give way a little bit and the skin may crack, as well. Place CUCUMBER in strainer and add a pinch of SALT and SUGAR. Place strainer in a bowl and refrigerate for an hour. CUCUMBER juice will accumulate in the bowl. I usually drink this juice for it’s super hero properties.

In a separate bowl, mix the ingredients of the sauce together. You will need a whisk to get the honey broken down and smooth in the sauce.

Combine all the ingredients and garnish with red pepper flakes and sesame seeds.

EAT!