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Following these steps will ensure that your cucumbers are perfectly crunchy and full of that addictive flavor every single time you make them.
First you need to wash your cucumbers very well under cold running water to remove any dirt or wax from the skin. Pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel because excess water will dilute the delicious sauce we are going to make.
Place the cucumbers on a sturdy cutting board. Many people like to use a heavy object like a rolling pin or a large knife to gently smack the cucumbers until they start to crack open. This is called the smashed cucumber method and it helps the sauce get into all the little cracks for more flavor.
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After you have lightly smashed them cut the cucumbers into bite sized chunks or thick slices depending on how you like to eat them. Put all the pieces into a large glass bowl.
Sprinkle the sea salt over the cucumber pieces and toss them gently with your hands or a spoon. Let them sit for about ten minutes. This step is very important because the salt draws out the extra water which makes the cucumbers even crunchier and allows the sauce to stick better.
While the cucumbers are sitting you can prepare the addictive sauce in a separate small bowl. Combine the soy sauce and toasted sesame oil and rice vinegar and sugar. Whisk them together until the sugar is completely dissolved into the liquid.
Add the minced garlic and the red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture. Stir it well so that the garlic flavor spreads through the whole dressing.
Go back to your bowl of cucumbers and drain away any liquid that has collected at the bottom of the bowl. You can even give them a quick pat with a paper towel if you want them to be extra dry.
Pour the prepared sauce over the cucumbers and toss everything together until every single piece is well coated in the dark and aromatic dressing.
Add the toasted sesame seeds and the sliced green onions to the bowl. Give it one final toss to distribute the garnishes evenly.
For the best taste let the cucumbers sit in the refrigerator for at least fifteen minutes before you serve them. This gives the garlic and vinegar time to really soak into the vegetable. Serve them cold and enjoy the incredible crunch.
Why This Recipe Is Special
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