Smacked cucumber sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 1½ tbsp black chinkiang vinegar
• ½ tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp crispy chilli oil, preferably Sichuan, including some sediment
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
• 4 slices of white bread (crusts removed if you prefer)
• Salted butter, for spreading
• 100g cream cheese

Method

Halve the cucumber lengthways and use a teaspoon to scrape out the very juicy inner seeds. Then use a rolling pin to bash along the skin of the cucumber to bruise and break it (not so hard you smash it). Chop into smallish chunks, sprinkle over a good pinch of fine salt then scrape into a colander and leave over the sink for 10 mins to draw out some of the excess water.

Whisk together the garlic, vinegar, soy, sesame oil, chilli oil and sesame seeds in a medium bowl. Tip in the drained cucumber and toss it through to coat. Set aside to marinate for 10 mins.

Butter the bread then spread a thick layer of cream cheese on half of the slices. Spoon on the smacked cucumbers, ensuring they nestle together snugly, then top with another buttered slice. Halve or cut into three finger sandwiches and serve. You could keep them for later, wrapping them in baking paper to take on a picnic.

Image: Emily Gussin