Sichuan-style cucumber salad
<p>I first went to Sichuan Province in China in my early 20s. The food there is astonishing. Everything seems to revolve around the mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorn. I've developed a heavy addiction to it.</p>
<p>This is classic Sichuanese and I'm pretty sure it's what changed my mind about cucumbers. I love the contrasts – sweet, sour and pinging heat; the crisp coolness of the cucumber; the rich fragrant generosity of the sesame oil. That and the fact that it's just about the easiest salad in existence. I think it's perfect for this time of year.</p>
<p>Adjust the chilli and Sichuan pepper to your liking. Choose a cucumber that is firm and crisp – anything watery and soft won't work. The fresh crunch is so much of what makes this wonderful.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span> </strong>Four</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>1 large telegraph cucumber</li>
<li>1 tablespoon light soy sauce</li>
<li>1/2 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar</li>
<li>1 teaspoon sesame oil</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon soft brown sugar or palm sugar</li>
<li>2 cloves garlic, finely chopped</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon Chinese chilli paste</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns, roughly crushed</li>
<li>Small handful coriander</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Peel cucumber and halve lengthways. Using a teaspoon, scoop out the watery pips. Cut cucumber into rustic 1cm slices on the diagonal and place in a bowl.</li>
<li>Combine remaining ingredients, except for the coriander, in a small bowl and taste.</li>
<li>If you think it needs a little more of something, be it sweet, sour, salt, or heat, adjust accordingly with a bit more sugar, soy sauce, vinegar or chilli.</li>
<li>Combine with chopped cucumber, scatter coriander over the top and serve.</li>
</ol>
<p>Mmm have your tried something like this?</p>
<p><em>Written by Sam Mannering. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></a>. Image credit: Jason Creaghan / <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></a></em></p>
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