Whole Cucumber Logan Salad (Print Version)

Crunchy cucumbers with garlic, chili, sesame oil, and shredded chicken for a fresh, protein-rich dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 whole Persian or mini cucumbers, washed
02 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

→ Protein

04 - 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken, skin removed

→ Dressing

05 - 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
06 - 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon monosodium glutamate (MSG), optional
09 - 1 teaspoon sugar
10 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or chili crisp, adjusted to taste

→ Garnish

11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
12 - Fresh cilantro leaves, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Place whole cucumbers on a cutting board and gently smash with a rolling pin or the flat side of a chef's knife until split but mostly intact. Slice into 2-inch angled sections for presentation.
02 - In a large bowl, mix smashed cucumbers, sliced scallions, and minced garlic evenly.
03 - Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, MSG, sugar, and chili flakes in a small bowl until combined.
04 - Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture and toss thoroughly. Let stand for 5 minutes to develop flavors.
05 - Transfer dressed cucumbers to a serving plate. Top liberally with shredded rotisserie chicken. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and optionally fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It's ready faster than you can order takeout, but tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • The whole cucumber method means less prep work and more time actually eating.
  • One bowl holds a complete, protein-packed meal that feels fresh and alive on your tongue.
  • MSG is optional, but it's the secret whisper that makes everything taste incredibly more like itself.
02 -
  • Don't chop the cucumbers into small pieces like you normally would for salad—the whole-smash method is the entire point, and it changes everything about the texture.
  • MSG isn't required, but if you've been avoiding it, this is the moment to reconsider; just a touch makes the flavors bloom in a way that salt alone cannot.
  • Warm rotisserie chicken is key because the heat releases the flavors into the cool dressing and creates this beautiful temperature contrast that makes you want to keep eating.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds if you have 3 minutes—the smell will tell you when they're ready, and they taste like an entirely different ingredient than pre-toasted ones.
  • Don't let this sit in the fridge overnight; it gets soggy and loses the textural contrast that makes it special, so save any leftovers for lunch the next day maximum.
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