Because we use extra salt to draw out the water in the cucumbers, the sodium count may be a bit higher than you'd expect. But don't worry - most of the salt is thrown out with the water. This salad is suitable for vegan, vegetarian, nut-free and dairy-free eating styles and with a little tweaking, it can be made suitable for all others. For keto/low carb, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. Swap the seasoned rice vinegar (it has added sugar) for some regular rice vinegar and add a pinch of a keto sweetener instead. For gluten-free check, the labels on the soy and rice vinegar as some may have unsuitable additives. Use coconut aminos to make it whole30 and paleo-friendly.

Pai Huang Gua A.K.A. Smashed Cucumber Salad

Ready for a salad workout? Let me introduce you to Pai Huang Gua, otherwise known as Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad. This simple yet delicious salad is a classic dish in many Asian cuisines. It is made by smashing cucumbers and then tossing them with some Asian favourites for an easy show-stopping salad.

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Pai Huang Gua salad with chlli, cilantro and szechuan in background with text overlay.

Pai Huang Gua is a classic Chinese cucumber salad recipe that’s beloved for its mix of flavours and texture. It’s tangy, it’s crunchy, and it’s the perfect way to start a meal.

For more cool cucumber salad recipes with an Asian note, why not try our Chinese Cucumber Salad or our Healthy Szechuan Cucumber Salad, they are just as delicious!

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Pai Huang Gua Ingredients

There are several versions of this salad, some without Szechuan peppercorns, some with dried or no chilli instead of fresh, some without garlic, some without coriander/cilantro, some with black vinegar added, as well as rice vinegar.

It is really up to you to decide what to include; we have used -

Cucumbers - Long English cucumbers are best, or Lebanese/ Persian cucumbers are great.
Fresh Coriander/ Cilantro -for some fresh citrusy flavour, if you find that cilantro tastes 'soapy', then try some Thai basil or Asian mint instead.
Long Red Chilli - added for a pop of colour and a touch of heat as they are not as hot as the small lethal chillis that you find, use some finely diced red capsicum/peppers, some hot chillis if you like some added heat, red pepper flakes or just leave them out 🤷🏻‍♀️.
Dressing - we have used an Asian-style dressing with sesame oil, soy sauce, seasoned rice vinegar and tamari for vegan or coconut aminos for keto.
You may also use regular rice vinegar or black vinegar but just add a ¼ to ½ teaspoon of sugar to the recipe to sweeten the dressing a little.
Sorry, I am not going to give you a quick fix for this - this simple cucumber salad really needs a smashing dressing!
Szechuan Peppercorns - not peppercorns at all but dried berries; they are not hot like usual peppers but have a citrusy tang to them that will make your mouth tingle.
You don't want to replace these with traditional black, white or green peppercorns.
Leave them out, or use some pink peppercorns instead.

Consider Adding - 
- Some toasted sesame seeds or even some black sesame seeds to add some nutty flavour.
- Some Asian chilli oil to add some heat and a boost of Asian flavours. Or why not make your own homemade chili oil? It's sensational!
- Some crispy fried shallots or crushed peanuts for some satisfying crunch.

How to Make Pai Huang Gua

Why Smash the Cucumbers?

This method of preparing cucumbers is a classic technique used around Asia.

Smashing cucumbers until they burst, cracks their skins, releases the seeds and is a way of allowing your tasty dressing to penetrate every nook and cranny of your cucumber, making them super delicious.

In addition, the different shapes and sizes make for interesting contrasts in texture with every bite.

Step 1 - Smash and Chop the Whole Cucumbers

Wash your cucumbers and pat them dry, then place them on your chopping board.

LONG TELEGRAPH CUCUMBERS ON WOODEN BOARD WITH ROLLING PIN

Then using something heavy such as a cleaver, a food mallet or a rolling pin, whack the cucumbers.

SMASHING CUCUMBERS ON BOARD WITH ROLLING PIN

Make sure that they just break apart and burst open, this will allow the dressing to penetrate and make them delicious.

Then cut the cucumber pieces diagonally into small chunks; this way, there is more surface area for your dressing to penetrate.

CUTTING SMASHED CUCUMBERS WITH A KNIFE ON A WOODEN BOARD

Place them in a colander, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon sea salt and toss.

ADD SALT TO SMASHED CUCUMBERS IN A COLANDER

Let the cucumbers stand for 20 minutes. We want to draw out some of the liquid so that they are not too watery.

TOSSING THE CUCUMBERS IN SALT IN A COLANDER

Step 2 - Prep Remaining Ingredients.

In the meantime, wash the chilli, remove the seeds, and then dice finely.

DICING RED CHILLI ON A WOODEN BOARD WITH RED KNIFE

Wash the coriander/cilantro, shake to remove to excess water, pat dry and roughly chop.

CHOPPED CORIANDER ON WOODEN BOARD WITH KNIFE

Place all dressing ingredients in a glass jar, and shake until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking.

Step 3 - Assemble the Salad

After the 20 minutes have passed drain the liquid from the bashed cucumbers.

DRAINING SALTED CUCUMBERS IN COLANDER WITH PLATE

Pat the cucumbers dry and place them in a large bowl.

PATTING WITH A PAPER TOWEL SMASHED CUCUMBERS DRY

Add the diced chilli and coriander/cilantro to the bowl with the smashed cucumbers, pour over the dressing.

Toss your salad well to combine, taste and adjust seasonings according to your preferences.

Arrange in a salad bowl and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Serving Suggestions 🥢🥡

I like this Chinese smashed cucumber salad as a side dish to any Asian-inspired meal, such as spicy satay, chilli basil chicken, or any type of curry or some spicy wings.

I also love to serve this at family BBQs alongside grilled meats - it's so tasty and refreshing! It's a real crowd-pleaser and always goes down a treat.

For a quick dinner, just grab some roasted duck or char siu pork from an Asian fast-food shop, and you've got yourself a delicious meal. It pairs really well with both!