I made this Smashed Cucumber Salad while spending time in a tiny log cabin in the Norwegian countryside. For a few weeks, we cooked simply with what we found around us: Norwegian salmon, cucumbers, and squash.
This salad could hardly be simpler. Cucumber is smashed rather than sliced, then tossed with apple cider vinegar, a little sugar, dill, salt, and pepper. That's really all it needs.
To smash the cucumber, use the flat side of a chef's knife or a rolling pin to gently crush it into irregular pieces. You want to crush and crack the cucumber, not pulverize it. Those rough, broken edges give the cucumber more surface area to soak up the sweet-tangy brine.
The result is crisp, juicy, and refreshing, with just the right balance of tang and sweetness. I especially like it alongside spicy foods, but it's equally good with mild, delicate dishes like my Baked Salmon with Creamy Dijon Sauce.
It's the kind of simple side dish I love—fresh, uncomplicated, and somehow exactly right.
Smashed Cucumber Salad - Norwegian Style
Ingredients
- 1 large English cucumber
- 21/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped
- 1- 2 tablespoons scallions very thinly sliced
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Crush the cucumber. Cut it into 2–3-inch sections. Place each piece cut-side down and gently press with the flat side of a chef's knife or rolling pin until it cracks and splits. Break into irregular bite-sized pieces.
- Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves.
- Toss the cucumber with the dressing, dill and scallions.
- Chill for 15-30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
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