Spicy Chinese Cucumbers

Ingredients:

• Cucumbers — 4-5 pieces
• Soy sauce — 1/2 tbsp
• Torchin® «Chili» ketchup — 2 tbsp
• Sugar — 1 tsp
• Sunflower oil — 1 tsp
• Garlic — 4 cloves
• Salt to taste
• Sesame seeds

Asian cuisine is renowned for its spiciness and rich flavors. Experience its diversity with our simple yet incredibly delicious salad. Spicy Chinese-style cucumber salad is a great appetizer that will add exotic notes to your table. It’s easy to prepare, and the result will pleasantly surprise you and your guests.

The combination of fresh cucumbers, spicy chili ketchup, aromatic garlic, and sesame seeds creates a true explosion of flavors. This salad not only complements main dishes but can also be a fantastic standalone appetizer. Enjoy your cooking!

Preparing Spicy Chinese-Style Cucumber Salad:

1. Prepare the Cucumbers:
   Wash the cucumbers, dry them, and slice them into thin rings. For an interesting and unique presentation, you can slice the cucumbers into spirals using chopsticks. You can also soak the cucumbers in cold water for about 2 hours. Cold water helps the cucumbers stay crisp and fresh, especially in hot weather, removes bitterness that cucumbers sometimes have, and cleanses any pesticide residues or dirt from the cucumber’s surface, especially if you plan to eat it with the skin. Soaking cucumbers in salted water or with vinegar can enhance their flavor.
2. Prepare the Garlic:
   Peel and finely chop the garlic.
3. Make the Dressing:
   In a separate deep bowl, prepare the dressing for the cucumbers. Add sugar, oil, chopped garlic, Torchin® «Chili» ketchup, and soy sauce. Mix everything well and let it sit for a few minutes so that all the ingredients blend into one refined flavor.
4. Mix the Salad:
   Add the cucumber slices to the bowl and mix so that they are completely covered with the sauce. Don’t forget to salt the salad and mix again to ensure the cucumbers are well coated with the dressing. It’s important to remember that cucumbers release water after slicing or salting, so it’s best to let this salad sit for a while before serving and then drain the excess water.
5. Serve:
   Prepare a festive plate, arrange the cucumbers, and before serving, garnish with sesame seeds.

Marinating Time for Chinese-Style Cucumbers:

The marinating time for spicy Chinese-style cucumber salad depends on how deep a flavor you want to achieve. This salad can be enjoyed immediately or the next day.

• If you want a light Chinese-style cucumber salad with mild spiciness, marinate the cucumbers for 15-30 minutes. This will allow the cucumbers to absorb a small amount of the sauce while remaining crisp and fresh.
• However, if you are making marinated cucumbers and want them to be fully infused with the marinade flavor, you can leave them to marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or even overnight.

Note that the marinating time may also depend on the thickness of the cucumber slices. For example, thin rings will marinate faster than thick pieces. In any case, taste the cucumbers during the marinating process so you can adjust the flavor to your preferences.