Chinese Recipe – Cold Cucumber

涼拌小黃黄瓜 liángbàn xiǎohuángguā

Cold cucumber is a light and refreshing Taiwanese side dish that’s perfect for hot summer days. Made with crunchy cucumbers, sugar, salt, vinegar, garlic, and a hint of chili, it strikes the perfect balance of tangy, savory, and slightly spicy flavors. The cucumbers are lightly smashed to soak up the marinade, and a drizzle of sesame oil adds a fragrant finishing touch.
This dish is quick to prepare, healthy, and pairs perfectly with any meal. It’s a staple in Taiwanese cuisine and a great way to cool off during summer!

Ingredients

小黃瓜xiǎohuángguā小黄瓜xiǎohuángguā 300克kè克kè (Cucumber: 300g)
細砂糖xìshātáng细砂糖xìshātáng 40克kè克kè (Granulated sugar: 40g)
鹽yán盐yán 1.5小匙xiǎochí小匙xiǎochí (Salt: 1.5 teaspoons)
白醋báicù白醋báicù 40毫升háoshēng毫升háoshēng (White vinegar: 40ml)
（or use lemon as a substitute）
辣椒làjiāo辣椒làjiāo 1根gēn根gēn (Chili pepper: 1 piece)
蒜泥suànní蒜泥suànní 1匙chí匙chí (Minced garlic: 1 tablespoon)
香油xiāngyóu香油xiāngyóu 數shù滴dī数shù滴dī (Sesame oil: A few drops)

How To Do

1. 把bǎ小黃瓜xiǎohuángguā洗xǐ淨jìng切qiē掉diào頭尾tóuwěi、 切qiē小段xiǎoduàn然後ránhòu拍打pāidǎ把bǎ小黄瓜xiǎohuángguā洗xǐ净jìng切qiē掉diào头尾tóuwěi， 切qiē小段xiǎoduàn然后ránhòu拍打pāidǎ
   Wash the cucumbers, trim off both ends, cut them into small sections, and lightly smash them.
2. 加jiā糖táng用yòng手shǒu抓一抓zhuāyìzhuā然後ránhòu再zài加jiā鹽yán拌勻bànyún加jiā糖táng用yòng手shǒu抓一抓zhuāyìzhuā然后ránhòu再zài加jiā盐yán拌匀bànyún 
   Add the sugar first and mix by hand, then add the salt and mix well.
3. 加入jiārù蒜泥suànní( 磨mó成chéng泥ní才cái能néng很hěn快kuài入味rùwèi) 、 切qiē好hǎo的de辣椒làjiāo和hé白醋báicù拌勻bànyún加入jiārù蒜泥suànní( 磨mó成chéng泥ní才cái能néng很hěn快kuài入味rùwèi) ， 切qiē好hǎo的de辣椒làjiāo和hé白醋báicù拌匀bànyún
   Add the minced garlic (grinding it finely helps it infuse flavor quickly), the sliced chili pepper, and white vinegar, then mix thoroughly.
4. 盛chéng盤pán後hòu滴dī入rù幾jǐ滴dī香油xiāngyóu在zài小黃瓜xiǎohuángguā上面shàngmiàn， 這樣zhèyàng就jiù完成wánchéng了le盛chéng盘pán后hòu滴dī入rù几jǐ滴dī香油xiāngyóu在zài小黄瓜xiǎohuángguā上面shàngmian， 这样zhèyàng就jiù完成wánchéng了le
   Transfer to a plate and drizzle a few drops of sesame oil over the cucumbers. And it’s done!