"The Message" Smashed Cucumber Salad

A smashed cucumber salad makes your regular cucumber salad seem boring and basic as hell. There is room to level up pretty much anything. Cucumber salad is no exception.

Texture matters in any dish in my humble opinion. Taste definitely prevails as #1 driver of food eating experience, but texture is not far behind and can actually turn a great tasting dish into a negative eating experience.

Creating this smashed cucumber salad brings the importance of texture to life. Whether you smash, slice, chop, etc. you created unexpected but enjoyable contrasts that just add to the overall eating experience.

Beats and Eats (music pairing with this recipe)

Cucumbers are light and refreshing and when served the right way can be inspiring. Given this, this smashed cucumber salad deserves a song of inspiration and upliftment. Brass Construction's "The Message" delivers this and then some. The message is powerful and soul-saving.

Ingredients Needed For Smashed Cucumber Salad

• Cucumbers
• Olive Oil
• Lemon Juice
• Brine from Jarred Roasted Red Pepper
• Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• Fresh Herbs of your choice - (basil, thyme, tarragon, oregano, parsley, cilantro)

How To Make Smashed Cucumber Salad (Step by Step)

Step 1: Make the Vinaigrette

Chop your herbs finely. Add to a mixing bowl with the salt, pepper, oil, lemon juice, and red pepper brine

Step 2: Smash the Cucumbers

Depending on length of cucumbers cut them into ½ - 1 inch slices. Using the flat side of a meat tenderizer or any other heavy flat-bottom item like a cast-iron skillet smash the cucumber slices.

Step 3: Toss the salad

Place smashed cucumbers in a mixing bowl. Add the vinaigrette and mix together thoroughly.

Smashed Cucumber Salad Cooking Considerations and Tips

Vary the thickness of the smashings for even more contrast.

Similarly, add in other shapes and cuts to make things even more interesting. For example cut some of the cukes diagonally, chop some into sticks, slice some thin lengthwise, etc.

Feel free to vary your cucumber types a bit. I used a combination of traditional, smaller Persian, and longer Japanese types.

Make the vinaigrette ahead of time to allow the flavors to come together more. Don't worry, it doesn't take long at all and isn't required for it to taste good.

If you don't have red pepper brine on hand, feel free to use other sources of brining liquids - plain old rice vinegar, pickle juice, or any other pickled condiments.

Serve smashed cucumber salad with a smash burger, fried chicken, grilled red snapper, fried pork chops, or blackened pork chops.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) For Cucumber Salad

Can Cucumber Salad Be Made Ahead?

Yes indeed. Just reserve the tossing step for when you are actually ready to serve the salad.

Is Cucumber Salad Keto-friendly?

Yes this is definitely a keto-friendly salad. The dressing is homemade and absent of any sugars that are used in your typical store-bought vinaigrette or salad dressing.

For Other Similar Recipes Try These:

Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono)

Duck Fat Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Collard Greens and Okra Salad

Keto Cucumber Salad

Cucumber Melon Soda

Smoked Tomato Salad

Smoked Salmon Salad

Cherry Tomato Salad w/ Whipped Feta

Smashed Cucumber Salad

Smashed cucumber salad recipe featuring cukes served in different shapes with an herb vinaigrette for a fun cucumber-based side dish.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 141kcal

Author: Marwin Brown

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 Cucumbers
• ▢ ¼ cup Olive Oil
• ▢ 1 Lemon Juice
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Brine from Jarred Roasted Red Pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
• ▢ Handful Fresh Herbs of your choice

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Vinaigrette

• Chop your herbs finely. Add to a mixing bowl with the salt, pepper, oil, lemon juice, and red pepper brine

Step 2: Smash the Cucumbers

• Depending on length of cucumbers cut them into ½ - 1 inch slices. Using the flat side of a meat tenderizer or any other heavy flat-bottom item like a cast-iron skillet smash the cucumber slices.

Step 3: Toss the salad

• Place smashed cucumbers in a mixing bowl. Add the vinaigrette and mix together thoroughly.

Video

Notes

Vary the thickness of the smashings for even more contrast.

Similarly, add in other shapes and cuts to make things even more interesting. For example cut some of the cukes diagonally, chop some into sticks, slice some thin lengthwise, etc.

Feel free to vary your cucumber types a bit. I used a combination of traditional, smaller Persian, and longer Japanese types.

Make the vinaigrette ahead of time to allow the flavors to come together more. Don't worry, it doesn't take long at all and isn't required for it to taste good.

If you don't have red pepper brine on hand, feel free to use other sources of brining liquids - plain old rice vinegar, pickle juice, or any other pickled condiments.

Serve smashed cucumber salad with fried chicken, grilled red snapper, or blackened pork chops.

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

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