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Smashed Cucumber Salad with Spicy Gochujang Dressing

  • Prep Time:
  • 25 mins
  • Cook Time:
  • 5 mins
  • Total Time:
  • 0 hour(s)
  • 30 mins

Crunch, crunch, mmm!  Warning: This super crunchy, spicy, sweet and savory salad is addictive. The fiery dressing—bolstered with umami-rich Korean Gochujang Fermented Chile Paste—is tamed by cool, refreshing cucumbers and tangy rice wine vinegar while a generous sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds adds a welcome crunch and nuttiness.

Recipe by Asha Loupy

Serves 4

Ingredients

Instructions

To prepare the cucumbers, place one cucumber on a cutting board and flatten, using a rolling pin or heavy-bottomed skillet, applying  gentle pressure until they begin to crack but don't fully lose their shape. Repeat with the remaining cucumbers. Slice the smashed cucumbers on the bias into 1-inch pieces. 

Transfer the cucumber pieces to a colander, sprinkle with salt and toss to coat. Set the colander in a large bowl and let drain for 15 minutes up to an hour in the refrigerator (this will remove some of their water, making them extra crunchy and ensuring your dressing won't get watered down).

While the cucumbers are draining, make the spicy gochujang dressing. In a medium bowl, combine the sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, shoyu, honey and gochujang and whisk until emulsifed.  Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Set aside.

Remove the salted cucumbers from the refrigerator and discard any extracted liquid. Pat the cucumber pieces dry with a paper towel or clean tea towel and transfer them to a serving bowl. Add the dressing and 3/4 each of the sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, and toss to coat.

Garnish with the remaining sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.