Let’s please name this dish by its correct identify – Suo Yi cucumber, or Suo Yi Huang Gua 蓑衣黄瓜. Suo Yi, refers back to the conventional Chinese language raincoat manufactured from overlapping layers of straw and typically leaves, assume a Hawaiian grass skirt however for the entire physique. And the “scales” of the cucumber created by a particular slicing method and stretching resemble the layers of straws in Suo Yi, therefore the identify.
And this particular approach of slicing is not only for presentation’s sake! Due to all of the extremely skinny, translucent, and versatile slices that this technique creates, the seemingly abnormal cucumber is reworked right into a type of magic and artwork! The feel is crunchy but tender, each single skinny “scale” of the cucumber picks up the sauce like a dream and delivers a punch of taste and aroma in your mouth.
For the dressing, you possibly can both add the condiments and spices to the cucumber then pour a splash of sizzling oil on it – don’t fret, that little fleeting warmth won’t prepare dinner the cucumber; or use ready-made chili oil; or, you possibly can even mix the oil, condiments, and all of the spices within the pan over medium warmth first, let it settle down, then pour onto the cucumber. However both approach, belief me an genuine Suo Yi cucumber shouldn’t be full with an fragrant oil ingredient.
INGREDIENTS:
1 lengthy cucumber or 2-3 medium-sized ones
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoon brown sugar
3 garlic cloves, minced
3-4 dry purple chili peppers, sliced
1 teaspoon entire Sichuan peppercorn
1 teaspoon white sesame seeds
2 tablespoon canola oil, or different excessive smoke level oil
Salt
TO MAKE:
– Slice the cucumber first VERTICALLY, use two chopsticks as guards, and minimize solely about 60% of the peak of the cucumber, DO NOT minimize via;
– Flip the cucumber, and slice the other facet DIAGONALLY the identical approach, minimize not more than 60% of the peak;
– As soon as either side are scored, stretch out the cucumber and place onto a spot, sprinkle a couple of beneficiant pinches of salt, light therapeutic massage the salt round, let the cucumber sit for no less than half an hour, as much as 1 hour, that is to set free the surplus juice and moisture within the cucumber and in addition to make it extra versatile, DO NOT SKIP;
– In a small bowl, whisk collectively rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and pour over the cucumber;
– In a small saucepan, warmth 2 tablespoons of oil over medium warmth, add within the Sichuan peppercorn, and let it light simmer and bubble for 20 minutes;
– As soon as the cucumber is rested, dump all of the juice that was set free, and rinse the salt off, drain nicely, stretch the cucumber out and coil it in a spiraling form onto a spot;
– Sprinkle the garlic, sesame seeds, and dry purple pepper over the cucumber, and as soon as the oil is finished infusing and heating, pressure out the pepper corn, and thoroughly pour the recent oil over the garlic and peppers, benefit from the sizzle and aroma!
– Stir every little thing to combine collectively, serve cooled, take pleasure in!
– *In case your cucumber could be very lengthy you should use a pair of scissors to chop it into smaller items for the comfort of consuming after serving.
