Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad
Savory and garlicky smashed cucumber salad is refreshing and pairs perfectly with every meal. Fresh garlic oil drizzled on top of crunchy cucumber; you need to try my Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad because I promise you will fall in love! This cucumber salad is not spicy, perfect for making for kids but still has all the savory flavors you find at restaurants. I make this Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad in bulk every week to enjoy throughout the week.

10 Minute Easy Meal Prep Cucumber Side Dish
Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad is also my go-to for meal prepping. I make a ton on the weekends, and keep it in the fridge for an easy side dish anytime. If you are making it in bulk, skip the sesame seeds!

Smashed Garlic Cucumber Ingredients
- 2 English Cucumber
- 10 cloves Garlic chopped
- 4 tbsp Oil
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Black Vinegar
- 1.5 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Sesame Seeds
- Cilantro

Tips For Extra Crunchy Cucumber
Cucumbers are high in fiber, Vitamin K, and Vitamin C, and super low in calories. It’s healthy for your immune system and your gut! I love adding them to my meals, because they’re just so refreshing paired with heavier dishes. The secret to making sure the Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad stays nice and crunchy is to draw out the excess water. Some people like only to use salt, but I find using half salt half sugar helps flavor the cucumber while ensuring that the cucumber stays nice and crunchy! Mix it in, and let it sit aside for 20 minutes, then dump out the extra liquid released. This will help the cucumber stay nice and crunchy.

Garlic Sesame Vinaigrette
Cucumber is a very watery, light vegetable that can quickly turn bland because of its high water content. However, with this garlic sesame vinaigrette, you add a ton of aromatic flavor from sesame and garlic that rounds out the watery flavor. It also has black vinegar to add some tang.
However, if you like SPICY food, I highly recommend adding some of Chen family’s addicting Chili Paste. It is super quick to make at home with easy-to-find ingredients.

How To Make Garlic Cucumber Salad
- Cut off the two ends of the cucumber, and using the side of the knife, smash the cucumber. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Massage the cucumber with 1 tsp of salt and 2 tbsp of sugar. Set it aside for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, dump out all the excess water and transfer the cucumber into a separate bowl.
- In a bowl, add chopped garlic and heat 4 tbsp of oil. Once the oil is hot, drizzle over the garlic.
- Season the cucumber with black vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seeds, cilantro, and fresh garlic oil. Toss everything together and enjoy!
Do you want more EASY 20 MINUTE RECIPES? Here are some of my go-to recipes that are easy to make at home!
- Spicy Garlic Bok Choy (10 Minutes ONLY!)
- Shrimp Pancake (20 minutes only!)
- Scallion Oil Noodles (Easy & Vegetarian)
- Chinese Steamed Eggs – 20 Minutes ONLY!

Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad
By Tiffy Cooks
Ingredients
- 2 English Cucumber
- 10 cloves Garlic chopped
- 4 tbsp Oil
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Black Vinegar
- 1.5 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Sesame Seeds
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Cut off the two ends of the cucumber, and using the side of the knife, smash the cucumber. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Massage the cucumber with 1 tsp of salt and 2 tbsp of sugar. Set it aside for 20 minutes.

- After 20 minutes, dump out all the excess water and transfer the cucumber into a separate bowl.
- In a bowl, add chopped garlic and heat 4 tbsp of oil. Once the oil is hot, drizzle over the garlic.

- Season the cucumber with black vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seeds, cilantro, and fresh garlic oil. Toss everything together and enjoy!




I just finished prepping this for dinner tonight and it’s taking so much self-control not to eat it all before dinner. SOOO GOOD!
Looking forward to trying this but, What happens if you do not have black vinegar? what other ingredient or substitute can you use?