Quick and Spicy Cucumber Pickle
- 4 medium Kirby cucumbers (each about 4 to 5 inches long), washed and cut into 1/8-inch rounds
- 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 3/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 generous tablespoons dried bonito flakes
- 2 1/4 teaspoons sugar
- 2 scallions, sliced very thinly on the bias
- Hot Japanese chile sesame oil
- Place the cucumbers in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with the salt, tossing well to combine.
- Gently massage the salt into the cucumbers for about 1 minute and set aside.
- Combine the vinegar, bonito flakes, and sugar in a small saucepan and bring just to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- Cool the mixture quickly by placing the pan in a bowl filled with ice.
- Set aside.
- Transfer the cucumbers to a small glass or ceramic dish, discarding any liquid left behind in the bowl.
- Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers and marinate them in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, turning the pieces over once or twice.
- To serve, lift the cucumbers from the marinade, briefly shaking the slices to remove any excess liquid.
- Place the cucumbers on small serving plates, overlapping the slices in an attractive pattern (a small circle works nicely).
- Top the cucumbers with a bit of sliced scallion and a light drizzle of chile-sesame oil.
cucumbers, kosher salt, rice wine vinegar, generous, sugar, scallions, sesame oil
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/quick-and-spicy-cucumber-pickle (may not work)