This delightful smashed cucumber and snap pea salad is an extremely flavorful side dish with just a hint of heat!

Smashing the cucumber allows it to soak in the dressing, so you get a wonderful mix of soy, vinegar, sesame, and chili in each bite! The snap peas bring in an essential crunch and bright, bold flavor.

Smashed cucumber and snap pea salad in a white bowl.

Why You'll Love this Smashed Cucumber Salad

Bright and fresh Asian-inspired salad topped with a zippy dressing!
A great side dish for fish, chicken, or noodles or serve it as part of a salmon rice bowl.
The soy sesame chili dressing adds just a little bit of heat and maximum umami flavor.

Cucumber Snap Pea Salad Ingredients

Cucumber - I recommend using a large English cucumber. You don't need to remove the seeds as they are soft, and the skin is mild in flavor. Regular hothouse cucumbers have bitter skin, and when used in a salad, they need to be peeled. If you can't find an English cucumber, I suggest using 4 to 5 small Jerusalem cucumbers - they don't need to be peeled either.
Sugar Snap Peas - fresh sugar snap peas have a wonderful, sweet, bright green flavor. They are often sold in plastic bags at the grocery store - before buying, check to make sure there are no yellowing or mushy snap peas in the bag as one bad snap pea can quickly spoil the whole bag.
Green Onions - fresh green onions or scallions provide just enough allium flavor without being overpowering. Check out our guide on how to tell if green onions have gone bad.
Fresh Garlic - what would a vegetable salad be without garlic? Fresh garlic cloves add a little zip and punch of flavor. Here's our guide on how to tell if garlic is spoiled.
Rice Vinegar - rice wine vinegar provides the essential acid flavor in the dressing and slight sweetness.
Soy Sauce - adding a punch of salty flavor, the soy is the base of the dressing. You can use a low-sodium soy sauce if you'd prefer.
Chili Oil - a wonderful blend of spices, dried chili, and oil - this adds some heat and a lot of flavor to the dressing. If you are sensitive to spice you can reduce the amount or omit it.
Sesame Oil - use a toasted sesame oil for best results. Sesame oil helps to emulsify the dressing as well as providing flavor.
Granulated Sugar - add just a hint of sweetness to the dressing to balance all the flavors.
Optional topping - white or black (or both) sesame seeds

See the recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for a smashed cucumber and snap pea salad on a marble background.

How to Make a Smashed Cucumber Salad

Step 1: Slice the snap peas and green onions into ¼-inch pieces.

Smashed and sliced cucumber on a cutting board.

Step 2: Wash the cucumber and pat it dry. Use the flat part of a large knife to smash the cucumber, pressing down on it with your hand. The cucumber will crack. Slice the cucumber into bite-size pieces.

Green onions, snap peas, and cucumbers in a glass bowl.

Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, snap peas, and green onions.

Sesame vinegar soy dressing in a glass bowl with a spoon.

Step 4: In a small mixing bowl, combine the garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, and sugar. Whisk to combine. Add the optional sesame seeds if using.

Step 5: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Garnish with additional sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.

Tips for Making this Salad

Specialty Ingredients - You can usually find black sesame seeds in the Asian or 'International foods' aisle at major grocery stores. They look great as a garnish (and taste great too)!
Recommended Tools - You'll need a large, heavy knife to whack the cucumbers to smash them. You could always use a meat pounder or rolling pin if you don't want to use a large knife.

Make Ahead & Storage

Storage - leftover salad can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to four days.
To Freeze - I do not recommend freezing this salad - the cucumber consistency will change and be unpleasant.
Reheat - allow the salad to come to room temperature outside of the refrigerator before serving. Do not try to heat it in the microwave.

A smashed cucumber and snap pea salad in a white bowl.

flavorful sides!

More Asian Salads to Try

Check out our favorite Asian-inspired salad recipes!

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Cucumber Snap Pea Salad

This delicious smashed cucumber and snap pea salad recipe is refreshing and easy to make! An excellent side dish that's ready in just a few minutes.

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Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings: servings

Author: Emily Wilson

Ingredients

1 English cucumber
8 ounces sugar snap peas sliced
2 green onions sliced
3 cloves garlic grated
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon chili oil
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
Optional topping - 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds

Instructions

Wash the cucumber and pat it dry. Use the flat part of a large knife to smash the cucumber, pressing down on it with your hand. The cucumber will crack. Slice the cucumber into bite-size pieces.
In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, snap peas, and green onions.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, and sugar. Whisk to combine. Add the optional sesame seeds if using.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Garnish with additional sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.