Smashed cucumbers with a spicy peanut sauce, sesame oil, chili, garlic, and rice vinegar. The Chinese-inspired salad that hits every flavour register at once.
Strike whole cucumbers with flat of knife until they crack. Cut into irregular pieces. Toss with 1 tsp salt. Rest 10 minutes then drain water.
Whisk peanut butter, soy, rice vinegar, chili oil, garlic, and 2 tbsp warm water until smooth. Should be pourable — add water until right consistency.
Toss drained cucumbers with peanut sauce. The rough surfaces of smashed cucumbers hold the sauce dramatically better than sliced ones.
Scatter spring onions, sesame seeds, and extra chili oil. Serve immediately or refrigerate 1 hour — it intensifies beautifully.