Smashed Cucumber and Melon Salad

Name: Smashed Cucumber and Melon Salad
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 medium Persian cucumbers, halved lengthwise; 1¼ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided; 2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar; 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil; 2 tsp. soy sauce; 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes; 1 tsp. sugar; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1½ lb. Hami melon or firm cantaloupe or honeydew, rind and seeds removed, flesh cut into 1" pieces; ¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro, plus more for serving; 1 tsp. toasted black or white sesame seeds

By Diana Yen

July 6, 2022

Smashed Cucumber and Melon Salad on plate

Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food Styling by Diana Yen, Prop Styling by Hannah Ferrara

Cool, crunchy, and refreshing, this sweet and savory salad is inspired by pai huang gau, the classic spicy Chinese smashed cucumbers I loved growing up. Not only is smashing the cucumbers fun, but this technique is an easy way to deseed them and imparts craggy edges ideal for catching the sesame oil dressing. Sweet Hami melon brings up the crunch factor, although cantaloupe or honeydew would work just as well in this. I like to pack up a container of this salad, pop it into a cooler, and head to the beach for the ultimate cool-off snack to share on hot summer days.

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What you’ll need

Chef's Knife
$61 At Amazon
Cutting Board
$10 At IKEA
Measuring Spoons
$10 At Bon Appétit Market

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