Smashed Cucumber Salad with Hot Vinegar
A refreshing Asian-inspired cucumber salad featuring crisp smashed cucumbers in a spicy-tangy dressing made with Thai chiles, fish sauce, and rice vinegar. Topped with crunchy peanuts for extra texture.
Ingredients
- •5 whole mini seedless or Persian cucumbers
- •1 tsp Kosher salt
- •4 whole Thai chiles
- •2 cloves garlic
- •½ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
- •2 Tbsp fish sauce
- •1 Tbsp sugar
- •¼ cup roasted peanuts
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Gently smash cucumbers with a rolling pin or the back of a heavy knife just to break open. Tear into irregular 2" pieces and place in a medium bowl; season lightly with salt. Let sit at least 5 minutes and up to 1 hour.
60 min
- 2.
Meanwhile, whisk chiles, garlic, vinegar, fish sauce, and sugar in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Let sit while cucumbers macerate.
5 min
- 3.
Drain cucumbers, discarding any liquid they have released. Add to bowl with dressing and toss several times to coat. Top with peanuts.
5 min
- 4.
Dressing can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.