Liangban Huanggua - Smashed Cucumber Salad with Garlic

The cucumber is not sliced but smashed with the flat of a knife. The torn surfaces take up the dressing in a way smooth slices never could.

• 15 minutes
• 4 servings
• Side dish

• vegan
• nut-free
• lactose-free
• kalorienarm

Ingredients

• 600 g Cucumber (smashed, not sliced)
• 12 g Garlic (finely chopped, raw)
• 30 g Rice vinegar
• 12 g Sesame oil
• 10 g Soy sauce
• 2 g Chilli flakes
• 6 g Sugar
• 10 g Sesame (toasted)

Instructions

1. Lay the cucumbers on a board and hit them with the flat of a large knife or a rolling pin until they split lengthwise.
2. Break them into rough, irregular pieces - do not cut them.
3. Toss with half a teaspoon of salt and drain in a sieve for 15 minutes. Discard the liquid.
4. Whisk garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, chilli flakes and sesame oil into a dressing.
5. Toss the cucumber pieces in it and leave for ten minutes.
6. Scatter with toasted sesame and serve cold.

Warum geschlagene Gurke besser schmeckt

The blow tears the cell walls open unevenly and multiplies the surface area. Dressing lodges in the cracks instead of running off smooth cut faces - same cucumber, same sauce, noticeably more flavour.

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