Name: Smacked cucumbers
Total time: 15 min
Yield: Serves 4 as a side
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 cucumber; 1 tbsp fine sea salt; 3 cloves, finely chopped garlic; 4 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tbsp caster sugar; 1 tbsp (see cook's notes) chiu chow chilli oil

1 cucumber
1 tbsp fine sea salt
3 cloves, finely chopped garlic
4 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 tbsp (see cook's notes) chiu chow chilli oil

Method

step 1
Put the cucumber onto a chopping board and use a clean rolling pin to bash the cucumber until it softens and splits in places. Cut the cucumber into quarters lengthways, then into chunky bite-sized pieces. Tip into a bowl, sprinkle with the salt then tip into a colander suspended over a bowl. Leave to salt for 1 hour in the fridge.
step 2
Meanwhile, put the garlic, rice vinegar and caster sugar into a bowl and whisk. Chill while the cucumber salts.
step 3
Run the cucumber under gently running cold water, then drain really well. Tip into a bowl and add the dressing and chilli oil. You can eat straightaway but they will get better the longer they’re left.