This here Italian cucumber salad, it’s a real treat, I tell ya! Ain’t nothin’ fancy, just good ol’ cucumbers and some other stuff mixed up. Real easy to make, too. You just chop things up and toss ’em together. Good for a hot day when you don’t wanna be fussin’ in the kitchen too much.
First thing, you gotta get them cucumbers. Now, I like them little ones, the ones they call pickling cucumbers. They got a good crunch to ’em. But any kind will do, long as they’re fresh. You want about a couple of pounds or so, maybe more if you’re feedin’ a crowd. Wash ’em good, get all that dirt off. Some folks peel ’em, but I leave the skin on. More vitamins that way, I reckon.
Now, here is what I do to make this Italian cucumber salad special. You gotta salt them cucumbers. Just sprinkle a good amount of salt on ’em. I use that fancy sea salt, but regular salt is fine too. Let ’em sit there for a bit, maybe half an hour. It makes ’em taste better, and it pulls out some of that water so your salad ain’t all watery.
- Cucumbers, about 2 pounds
- Salt, a good pinch or two
- Vinegar, I like apple cider, but white is okay
- Some red onions, sliced thin
- Maybe some tomatoes, if you got ’em
Then, you slice ’em up. Not too thin, not too thick. Just right so you can get a good bite. Then, you gotta put them in a strainer over the sink for about 30 minutes. Some folks like to slice ’em longways, but I just do circles. After you slice ’em, you gotta salt ’em. Yes, salt again. That’s the secret, see? It draws out the water so your Italian cucumber salad ain’t all soggy.
While they’re sittin’ there, you can get your other stuff ready. I like to put some red onion in mine. Slice it real thin, so it ain’t too strong. You can soak it in some cold water for a bit if you want, takes some of the bite out. If it is a creamy Italian cucumber salad you want, the secret is the sour cream!
Some folks like tomatoes in their Italian cucumber salad. I do sometimes, ‘specially if I got some good ones from the garden. Cherry tomatoes are nice, all sweet and juicy. Just cut ’em in half. You can put other stuff in there too, whatever you like. Some people like bell peppers, or olives, or even cheese. It’s your salad, you do what you want!
Now, for the dressing. This is where the “Italian” part comes in, I guess. You can buy that bottled Italian dressing, that’s fine. But I like to make my own. It’s just vinegar and some oil, and some herbs and spices. I like to use apple cider vinegar, but you can use white vinegar too. Red wine vinegar is good too, if you got it. For oil, olive oil is the best, but any kind will do. This is the most important part of the Italian cucumber salad recipe!
For the herbs, I like oregano and basil. Fresh is best, if you got it growin’ out back. But dried is okay too. Just a pinch of each. Then, some garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix it all up in a jar and shake it good. You can add a little sugar if you like it a bit sweet. Or a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like it spicy. I like it tangy, so I go heavy on the vinegar.
Once the cucumbers are done sittin’, rinse ’em off good with cold water. Get all that salt off. Then, put ’em in a big bowl with the onions and tomatoes, or whatever else you’re puttin’ in. Pour that dressing over the top and toss it all together. Make sure everything’s coated good. This Italian cucumber salad is best served cold.
Now, you can eat it right away, but it’s even better if you let it sit in the fridge for a while. The flavors all meld together, and it gets nice and cold. I like to make a big batch and eat it all week long. It’s good with just about anything. Sandwiches, burgers, grilled chicken, you name it. This is my go-to side dish in the summer. Everyone loves this Italian cucumber dish!
So, there you have it. My Italian cucumber salad. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good. And it’s easy. Just like me. Hope you enjoy it! It’s ready in just a few minutes. Just remember to salt those cucumbers! And don’t be afraid to experiment with the dressing. Make it your own. That’s what cookin’ is all about. And, well, it’s just a good side dish, ain’t it?
It’s a great Italian cucumber dish to have on hand in the summer. You can take it to picnics, potlucks, or just have it with your supper. This salad is so refreshing, it is a perfect summer side dish. So next time you got some cucumbers layin’ around, give this Italian cucumber salad a try. You might just like it! This salad can be made with simple ingredients. Remember the vinegar!
