This dish is more than a salad; it's a journey through flavors and textures, a refreshing side that promises to awaken the palate and impress with its simplicity and depth.
Ingredients:
2 fresh cucumbers
2/3 teaspoon of salt
2 large cloves of garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon of Chinese black vinegar (Chinkiang vinegar)
1 tablespoon of chili oil
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of regular soy sauce
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
Instructions:
1️⃣ Cucumber Prelude: Begin with a thorough cleansing of the cucumbers under a gentle stream of water. On a sturdy cutting board, lay them out like logs awaiting their fate. With the flat side of a knife or the gentle thud of a rolling pin, give them a tender smack. This is not a punishment, but an awakening, as we slightly crush them to open their souls, making them receptive to the flavors we will bestow. Then, lovingly cut them into bite-sized morsels.
2️⃣ Salting Ceremony: In a vessel of choice, a mixing bowl, cradle the cucumber pieces and shower them with salt. Mix with care, as though stirring the ocean into a gentle tide, and let them rest for about 10 minutes. This ritual draws out the water, heightening the cucumbers' crispness, preparing them for the flavors to come.
3️⃣ Drainage Ritual: After their rest, liberate the cucumbers from any excess liquid that has gathered. This step ensures our salad remains vibrant and crisp, unburdened by wateriness.
4️⃣ Flavor Infusion: Introduce the minced garlic to the cucumbers, followed by the Chinese black vinegar, chili oil, sugar, and soy sauce. Gently toss them together, as if the cucumbers are dancing in a coat of vibrant flavors, each ingredient a note in this symphony of taste.
5️⃣ Sesame Oil Blessing: With a graceful motion, drizzle the sesame oil over the salad, giving it one final stir. The sesame oil is the closing note, a rich, nutty flavor that binds the entire dish together in aromatic harmony.
6️⃣ The Serving: Present the salad in a serving dish, an offering to the table. This Refreshing Smacked Cucumber Salad is a celebration of textures and flavors, best enjoyed fresh, where the crispness of the cucumbers plays with the vibrant dressing in a symphony of taste.