Sichuan Cucumber Salad Food

SICHUAN CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, then cut each half crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Combine the cucumber slices and salt. Stir to coat and let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat the cooking oil in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and Sichuan peppercorns; cook until fragrant. Remove to a bowl and let cool. Add the remaining dressing ingredients and mix until well blended. Pour over cucumber slices and mix well. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate and serve cold.

CHUNKY BACON AND CUCUMBER SALAD (SICHUAN 'KAI-WEI' SALAD)

Steps:

• Heat a wok or pan over a high heat and add the groundnut oil. Add the dried chiles and Sichuan peppercorns, and stir-fry for a few seconds, until fragrant. Add the star anise, lardons, and chiles, and stir-fry until the lardons have turned golden brown at the edges.
• Add the rice wine or sherry, vinegar, and sesame oil, and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the cucumber, and stir-fry for another few seconds.
• Season with the sea salt, dried chile flakes, and lime juice.
• Arrange the salad on a serving plate, drizzle over the chile oil, and garnish with the chopped cilantro and peanuts, if using. Serve immediately.

SMASHED CUCUMBER AND WATERMELON SALAD

Steps:

• Partially peel the cucumbers in strips and cut in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds. Firmly smash the cucumber pieces with the flat side of a cleaver or large knife (or a rolling pin) until the cucumbers split in half naturally. Pull apart the 2 sides of the cucumbers along the natural split. Cut the cucumbers into 1-inch pieces diagonally.
• Toss together the cucumbers and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl. Let sit at room temperature until the cucumbers have released some liquid, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, add the neutral oil and shallots to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are mostly browned, about 6 minutes. Set aside to cool, about 20 minutes (the shallots will continue to brown).
• When the shallot oil mixture is cool, stir in the following ingredients in this order: the lime zest, Chinese black vinegar, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, 1 teaspoon of the sesame seeds, the red chile and lime juice until the sugar is dissolved; set aside.
• Drain the cucumbers and dry them with a paper towel. Toss the cucumbers, watermelon, cilantro and mint in the lime-soy dressing and transfer to a plate. Garnish with the remaining toasted sesame seeds and additional cilantro and mint.

SICHUAN CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add red chile peppers; cook and stir until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Let cool and transfer to a spice grinder; pulse until coarsely ground.
• Mix ground chile peppers, soy sauce, spring onion, sesame oil, hot chile oil, brown sugar, garlic, black vinegar, and sesame seeds together in a bowl to make dressing.
• Place cucumbers on a serving plate. Pour dressing on top and toss well. Let sit before serving, about 3 minutes.

CHINESE SMASHED CUCUMBERS WITH SESAME OIL AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Cut crosswise into pieces about 4 inches long. Cut each piece in half lengthwise.
• On a work surface, place a piece of cucumber (or several) cut side down. Lay the blade of a large knife flat on top the cucumber and smash down lightly with your other hand. The skin will begin to crack, the flesh will break down and the seeds will separate. Repeat until the whole piece is smashed. Break or slice diagonally into bite-size pieces, leaving the seeds behind.
• Place the cucumber pieces in a strainer and toss with a big pinch of salt and a big pinch of sugar. Place a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the cucumbers to serve as a weight and place the strainer over a bowl. Let drain 15 to 30 minutes on the counter, or in the refrigerator until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in sesame oil and soy sauce.
• When ready to serve, shake cucumbers well to drain off any remaining liquid and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with grapeseed or olive oil and toss. Add half the dressing, half the garlic and the red pepper flakes to taste, and toss. Keep adding dressing until cucumbers are well coated but not drowned. Taste and add more pepper flakes and garlic if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds.

SZECHUAN CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Place cucumber slices in medium serving bowl, set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt and sesame oil, mix well.
• Pour dressing over cucumber slices and toss well.
• Cover and let rest at room temperature up to 4 hours.
• Drain cucumbers.
• Garnish with cilantro, if desired, before serving.