Appetizers · ALWAYS FREE
Smashed cucumber & sesame appetizer
Cold skin-on cucumber broken into craggy pieces and tossed with sesame, ginger and a sharp soy dressing.
Ingredients
Volumes are approximate. For baking, use a scale; Metric keeps the specified gram weights.
Let’s make it
- Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring until fragrant and lightly golden. Transfer all seeds to a small bowl and cool about 5 minutes.
- Wash cucumber, dry it and trim ends before weighing. Put on a stable board, cover loosely with a clean towel and tap firmly with a rolling pin until it splits lengthwise. Cut or break into rough 2–3 cm pieces; retain skin, seeds and released juice.
- Whisk vinegar, sugar and soy sauce until sugar dissolves, then stir in sesame oil, garlic and ginger. Toss all cucumber pieces and their juice with the dressing and cooled sesame.
- Refrigerate 10 minutes, toss again and divide among 6 small bowls, sharing the liquid as well as the pieces. Do not salt, drain or squeeze the cucumber; this version keeps its natural juice.
- Serve soon for best crunch. Keep leftovers refrigerated and use within 24 hours; they soften and release more liquid. This is a freshly dressed appetizer, not fermented or shelf-stable pickles.
Estimated nutrition
Per serving · 1 of 6- Calories
- 48 kcal
- Protein
- 1.3 g
- Total carbohydrate
- 5.4 g
- Total fat
- 2.8 g
- Total sugars
- 2.8 g
Calculated from the listed ingredients and yield. Brands, draining, cooking and portioning can change the result. Not a laboratory analysis.
Calculation notes & sources
ESTIMATED per serving. Brand, crop, preparation, draining, pan residue and substitutions change actual nutrition. Not laboratory analysis. Each ingredient retains its primary food description and state. All listed ingredient masses are counted; cooking moisture changes do not change the stated portion count. No generic nutrient-retention factor is invented. Calories are kcal; protein, total carbohydrate, fat and total sugar are grams. Total carbohydrate includes fiber and is not net carbohydrate. Fiber and sodium are not displayed. Equal portions or explicitly counted items define the stated recipe yield. US/Metric display changes do not change these canonical inputs. Primary-source supplements are retained per ingredient where USDA lacks a field; missing values are never silently changed to zero. Six equal portions including all dressing and cucumber juice. Contains sesame, soy and wheat. Vegan/Dairy-Free require labels and cross-contact checks; no oil or sugar omitted from estimate.
View the ingredient calculations · Source 1Why it’s in this collection
- Vegan: Complete ingredient review of Smashed cucumber & sesame appetizer: cold thin-skinned cucumber; whole dried sesame seeds; sesame oil; reduced-sodium soy sauce; distilled white culinary vinegar; granulated sugar suitable for vegans; garlic; fresh ginger. No meat, fish, eggs, milk, honey, gelatin or other animal-derived ingredient is listed. Select vegan-labeled sugar or other processed ingredients when their processing source is uncertain.
Required label checks: Review the complete listed ingredients and all product labels. Accompaniments and substitutions require a new screen. Processing aids and cross-contact have not been certified. Check sugar, vinegar, olives, capers and packaged products for animal-derived processing aids or additions.
Supporting reference · Supporting reference - Vegetarian: Complete ingredient review of Smashed cucumber & sesame appetizer: cold thin-skinned cucumber; whole dried sesame seeds; sesame oil; reduced-sodium soy sauce; distilled white culinary vinegar; granulated sugar suitable for vegans; garlic; fresh ginger. No meat, fish, gelatin or animal-rennet cheese is listed; eggs or dairy may be present.
Required label checks: Review the complete listed ingredients and all product labels. Accompaniments and substitutions require a new screen. Processing aids and cross-contact have not been certified.
Supporting reference · Supporting reference - Dairy-Free: Complete ingredient review of Smashed cucumber & sesame appetizer: cold thin-skinned cucumber; whole dried sesame seeds; sesame oil; reduced-sodium soy sauce; distilled white culinary vinegar; granulated sugar suitable for vegans; garlic; fresh ginger. No milk, butter, cream, cheese, yogurt, whey or casein is listed. Breadcrumbs, where used, must meet the explicit milk-free label condition.
Required label checks: Review the complete listed ingredients and all product labels. Accompaniments and substitutions require a new screen. Processing aids and cross-contact have not been certified. Check packaged products, especially breadcrumbs, for milk-derived additions and cross-contact.
Supporting reference
Calculations are estimates from the specified ingredients and portions. Brands, trimming, substitutions, and cooking losses change the result. This is recipe guidance, not individualized nutrition or medical advice.
Times are estimates. Images illustrate the dish; check ingredients and portions for your needs.
Use a food thermometer for meat, fish, and egg dishes. Refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C). Safe cooking temperatures · USDA leftover guidance
