For as long as I can remember, spicy smashed cucumber has been one of my favourite little appetizers at Chinese restaurants. Along with those impossibly tasty salty fried peanuts, I’m always delighted when small plate of smashed cucumber finds its way my table. A little nibble here and there really whets the appetite (not that mine needs much whetting, ha).

I just adore the humble cucumber, with its ‘refreshingly crisp’ song mouthfeel. That’s why I love this salad, which puts cucumber squarely in the spotlight. Adding shredded chicken makes this salad a great substantial option for lunch or dinner, and like the cucumber itself, the chicken also soaks up the deliciously tangy and garlicky dressing.

For something so flavoursome, it’s also ludicrously quick to throw together. Fun too, because the ‘smashed bit’ means that you get to release your tensions as you bash the cucumber apart. I love the mentality behind it, and I imagine that a cool little Chinese granny is the mastermind behind it: why go to the trouble of chopping the cucumber when you can just whack at it until it naturally splits? This method also leaves you with charmingly imperfect little pieces of cucumber, which are more fun to chopstick!