Smashed Cucumber Salad-Pai Huang Gua

 Pai Huang Gua

2 long cucumbers

4 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped

1 medium fresh hot chili, thinly sliced

2 small dried red chilies (or use more fresh stuff)

4 tablespoons oil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn

½ teaspoon cumin seeds

1 bay leaf (I forgot this part and it was still good)

1 small cinnamon bark

1 tablespoon soy sauce

3 tablespoons dark vinegar (malt vinegar)

1 teaspoon sugar, I skip this too

A small piece of Chinese leek, you can use a green onion

Coriander, optional for those who don’t like it

Using the side of a clever or chef’s knife, smash the cucumber until they have cracked into several long pieces. Cut into bite sized pieces.

Add the hot chili pepper and garlic to the cucumber. Mix in the soy sauce, vinegar, and optional sugar.

Heat oil in a frying pan and add ginger, leek, dried chili, cumin seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon bark, and Sichuan pepper. Fry on low heat until the leek releases its fragrance and the chili turns bright red. Take off the heat and (OPTIONAL) remove the spices.

Add the oil to the cucumbers and mix well.