Smashed Cucumber & Sardine Salad With Chili Crisp

Smashing the cucumbers instead of slicing them gives the dressing ragged edges to grab onto. It is the whole trick.

No cooking at all, which makes this the one to reach for in August.

Rustic & Textural · Serves 2

Ingredients

• 1 tin Nice Cans sardines
• 4-5 Persian cucumbers
• 2 tbsp chili crisp
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 scallion, sliced

Method

1. Smash the cucumbers with the flat side of a knife until they split open; cut into rough pieces.
2. Toss the cucumbers with rice vinegar, garlic, and a pinch of salt; let sit 5 minutes.
3. Arrange on a platter and top with the sardines.
4. Drizzle with chili crisp and sesame oil.
5. Finish with sesame seeds and scallion.

One tip

Let the salted cucumbers sit, then tip off the water that pools. Otherwise it waters down the chili crisp.

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