Giada De Laurentiis Just Shared This 4-Ingredient Italian-inspired Cucumber Salad

Cucumber salads seem to be taking social media by storm with an abundance of delicious recipes popping up on a regular basis. The crisp veggie makes an excellent canvas, as it readily soaks up different flavors—from Spicy Cucumber Salad with Cilantro & Peanuts to salty-sweet Tropical Cucumber Salad. 

Plus, cucumbers have a number of health benefits, including a high water content which makes them a great option to add a little hydration to your meals on a summer day. Giada De Laurentiis seemed to have the same thought, taking to Instagram to share a simple cucumber salad recipe.

The Italian-American chef posted a reel on Instagram showing her newest rendition of a cucumber salad that she whipped up using just four ingredients (not including salt and olive oil). She starts by thinly slicing the cucumber using a mandolin before adding it to a glass jar. De Laurentiis follows up by adding a spoonful of Calabrian chili paste and colatura, which is an Italian fish sauce that’s typically made with anchovies.  

Giada then squeezes in some lemon juice and adds salt (while she chose a seasoned salt, regular salt will also do the trick) and olive oil before placing the lid back on and giving it a good shake to combine the ingredients. “You gotta shake it … vigorously to get all the Calabrian chili into everything to kind of blend together.” 

The distinctive flavors of Calabrian chili and colatura make this recipe super appealing, plus you might get a little arm workout while shaking the jar. A flavorful and hydrating dish and some exercise seem like a win-win to us!

If you’re still craving some refreshing cucumber recipes, we have plenty of options that you can try out–and they’re not all salads. Whether they’re sandwiched in between two slices of hearty bread like in our Cucumber Sandwich with Cotija & Lime or blended into a creamy soup like our Creamy Cucumber Dill Soup, the summer veggie makes a great addition to any meal.