Tag: Cucumber

Smacked Sichuan cucumber

~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

Spicy, sweet, salty, tangy and crunchy – a veritable feast for the senses. Super-simple to make AND you get to smack a cucumber. What more could you want?

  • 1 cucumber
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp black vinegar
  • 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp chilli oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, lightly squashed
  1. First make the dressing as it improves with standing for 5 mins. Just mix together the sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, chilli oil and garlic. Leave on one side til all the ingredients have made friends
  2. Put the whole cucumber on a chopping board and place a wide knife flat on top.
  3. Using the palm of your hand, smack the knife until the cucumber splits and breaks
  4. Chop it into bite-sized pieces and tip into a bowl
  5. Then tip the dressing over the cucumber and mix thoroughly. Give it a couple of mins to stand before serving, sprinkled with sesame seeds and finely chopped red chilli if you like

Serve with this teriyaki aubergine rice bowl, as part of a feast with Chinese spiced roast chicken, or alongside rich, spicy pork and carrots. So many delicious options!

Pineapple and cucumber salad

~ Sophie ~ 2 Comments

Malaysian-style salad, fresh and refreshing, sweet and tangy. The best alongside anything spicy. Serves 2.

  • ⅓ cucumber
  • 200g pineapple
  • 1 big red chilli, deseeded and sliced
  • Handful fresh coriander, chopped
  • 50g roasted salted peanuts
  • 1 tsp tamarind paste
  • 1 tsp caster sugar
  • 1 tsp fish sauce
  • 2 tsp lime juice (about ¼ of a juicy lime)
  1. Slice the cucumber in half lengthways then cut out the core
  2. Cut into thin half moon slices
  3. Cut pineapple into chunks and cut this into thin slices too
  4. Pile the cucumber and pineapple into a bowl with the chilli, peanuts and coriander
  5. Put the tamarind, sugar, fish sauce and lime juice in a little bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves
  6. Pour over the salad and toss together before serving straight away

Cucumber salad

~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

Simple, spiky, sweet, tangy, mouthwatering. Goes with anything. Feeds 2

  • Half a cucumber
  • 4 tbsp vinegar
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  1. Slice the cucumber as thin as poss, use a mandolin if you have one
  2. In a cup, mix together the vinegar, sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved
  3. Pour over the cucumber slices and mix through. Leave for 5 mins before serving, but no more than half an hour

If you’re making this to go with SE Asian food, use rice vinegar and garnish with sliced red chilli. If it’s Eastern European, use white wine vinegar, add a load of freshly ground black pepper or fresh chopped dill. If you’re just eating it with a pile of barbecued sausages, you can keep it plain!