Smashed Garlic Cucumber Salad: Neil Perry's Easy Recipe

Cucumber with Smashed Garlic

Serves 4

Cooking Time Prep time 10 mins (plus 1 hour standing)

• 4 Lebanese cucumbers, halved lengthways, seeds removed plus 2 teaspoons of salt

• 2 garlic cloves, smashed in a mortar and pestle

• 7 gm  (1½ cm) piece of ginger, cut into julienne

• 1½ tbsp rice wine vinegar

• 1 tbsp caster sugar

• 1 tbsp sesame oil or 1 sesame seeds

Step 1 - Coarsely chop cucumber into rough 4cm lengths, and combine in a non-reactive bowl with 2 teaspoons of sea salt, tossing to coat. Stand for 1 hour, then drain. Combine with garlic and ginger and set aside.

Step 2 - Combine vinegar, sugar and oil in a small bowl, drizzle over cucumber mixture, stir to combine and stand for 10 minutes to allow flavours to combine. Serve as a condiment.