When the weather heats up, people love cold dishes, and this tangy, spicy, refreshing cucumber salad is always the top choice. It’s quick and easy to make – the perfect appetizer for summer!
Ingredients and Steps:
1、Prepare the ingredients: Choose straight cucumbers with bright green skin (they taste better). Peel and mince the garlic. Wash and chop the small chili peppers (bird’s eye chilies).
2、Do not slice the cucumber directly – it’s much better to smash it a few times with the flat side of a knife, then cut it into chunks. No need to remove the inner seeds.
3、Place the cucumber chunks in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and ? teaspoon of salt. Mix well and let it marinate for 10 minutes.
4、Pour off the liquid released during marinating – this step makes the cucumber extra crisp and crunchy.
5、Add the minced garlic and chopped chilies to the bowl, then add 1 tablespoon of chili powder. (If you don’t like heat, you can skip both the fresh chilies and the chili powder.)
6、Add 2 tablespoons of dark rice vinegar (or Chinese black vinegar). Vinegar and garlic are the soul of cold salads – don’t skip them!
7、Add 3 tablespoons of light soy sauce. Never use dark soy sauce for cold dishes; use light soy sauce, first-class soy sauce, or even "umami" soy sauce – all work well for salads or cold noodles.
8、Heat some cooking oil in a pan, add a few Sichuan peppercorns, and fry until fragrant. You can remove the peppercorns afterward, or leave them in – I often just keep them with the oil and toss them into the salad.
9、Pour the hot sizzling oil (with or without peppercorns) directly over the chili powder and garlic to release their aroma. In my hometown, we call this "blooming" the chili and garlic with hot oil.
10、Toss everything together and serve immediately. If you’re not in a hurry, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes – the flavor gets even better!
Tips:
1、Smashing the cucumber with a knife gives a better texture than slicing, and it absorbs the dressing more easily. Marinating with salt and sugar beforehand ensures a crunchier bite.
2、If you can’t handle spice, omit the fresh chilies and chili powder – it’ll still taste great, though the flavor profile will be different.
3、Feel free to add some fresh cilantro if you like. And remember: garlic and vinegar are absolutely essential – they’re the heart of any cold salad!