Viral Tests
We Tried the Viral Cucumber Salad (And Made It Better)
The smashed cucumber salad everyone's making on TikTok — here's what works, what doesn't, and our upgrades.
Recipe
We Tried the Viral Cucumber Salad (And Made It Better)
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 lbPersian or English cucumbers
- 2 tspkosher salt
Dressing
- 4garlic cloves, finely grated
- 3 tbspsoy sauce
- 2 tbsprice vinegar
- 1 tbspchili crisp
- 2 tsptoasted sesame oil
- 1 tsphoney
Finishing
- 2 tbsptoasted sesame seeds
- 3scallions, thinly sliced
Instructions
Smash the cucumbers with the flat side of a knife until they crack open. Tear into rough 1-inch pieces — the jagged edges grab the dressing.
Toss cucumbers with salt in a colander and let drain for 15 minutes. This is the step people skip, and it's why their salad ends up watery.
Whisk the garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, chili crisp, sesame oil, and honey together.
Shake the cucumbers dry (don't rinse). Toss with the dressing and let sit 5 minutes.
Top with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve cold.
Notes
The salting step is non-negotiable. Skip it and you'll have dressing-soup at the bottom of the bowl.
Substitutions
No chili crisp? Use 1 tsp red pepper flakes plus an extra drizzle of sesame oil. Maple syrup subs in for honey.
Leftover tips
Leftover salad releases a lot of liquid overnight. Drain it off and use the cucumbers as a tangy topping for rice bowls or noodles.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 95
- Protein
- 3g
- Carbs
- 9g
- Fat
- 5g