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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> <p><em><strong>Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, yet? Featuring 175 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</span></a>.</strong></em></p>

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