Pai Huang Gua (Sichuan Smashed Cucumbers)

Name: Pai Huang Gua (Sichuan Smashed Cucumbers)
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2 (14-ounce) English, cucumbers; 1 1/2 teaspoons, kosher salt; 4 teaspoons Chinese black, vinegar; 1 teaspoon, garlic, minced to paste; 1 tablespoon, soy sauce; 2 teaspoons, toasted sesame oil; 1 teaspoon, sugar; 1 teaspoon, sesame seeds, toasted

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Appears in Cook's Illustrated July/August 2017, America's Test Kitchen TV

For a refreshing new take on cucumber salad, put down your knife and pick up a skillet.

SERVES4

TIME35 minutes

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WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Smashed cucumbers, or pai huang gua, is a Sichuan dish that is typically served with rich, spicy food. We started with English cucumbers, which are nearly seedless and have thin, crisp skins. Placing them in a zipper-lock bag and smashing t...

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