Giada’s Zucchini Crudo: The 2023 Twist on the Classic Caprese Salad

Scrolling through TikTok often brings unexpected inspiration, but this one was different. It wasn’t about closet makeovers or beauty tips, but about food. Just two days ago, I came across a TikTok from renowned chef Giada De Laurentiis, showcasing her zucchini crudo recipe. At first, I wasn’t entirely convinced, but after watching the full video, I knew this dish was something I had to try and recreate.

It All Begins With Zucchini

In the opening of her video, Giada explains that zucchini can be eaten raw, just like other veggies. This is why she calls it a 'crudo,' meaning 'raw' in Italian. She slices the zucchini thinly, then sprinkles it with lemon zest, salt, and pepper. The salt is key for softening and tenderizing the zucchini. While she continues with the recipe, I made a small tweak to her version, which you’ll find below. To finish, Giada adds fresh basil and torn pieces of creamy burrata. A generous drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil ties everything together, making her zucchini crudo the new “Caprese salad.”

The Flavor Experience

Zucchini crudo is not only delicious, but also incredibly easy to prepare. It comes together in no time with just a handful of ingredients. Even if you’re unsure about raw zucchini, I’m confident that after trying this dish, you’ll be a convert.

That said, I did make a few tweaks to the original recipe. These small adjustments will enhance both the texture and the flavor, and they won’t add much extra time to the process.

Pro Tips for Making Zucchini Crudo

1. Prep your zucchini. Slice it thinly (a mandoline slicer makes this easy) for the best results. If you have a few extra minutes, you can salt the slices to draw out moisture and soften them. Simply toss the zucchini with salt, let it sit for 10 minutes, then drain the excess liquid before continuing with the recipe.
2. Use lemon juice. While Giada uses lemon zest, we suggest adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice as well to boost the dish’s brightness.
3. Make it your own. The recipe provides basic quantities and instructions, but feel free to adjust the amount of zucchini or burrata, or tweak other ingredients to suit your personal taste.
4. The quality of EVOO matters. Since extra-virgin olive oil is used as a finishing touch, opt for a high-quality, fruity olive oil to really elevate the dish.

How to Make Zucchini Crudo

Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest and 2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• Pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn if large
• 4 ounces burrata*, torn into bite-size pieces 
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, toss the zucchini slices with salt and let them sit for 10 minutes. Afterward, drain the excess liquid.
2. Arrange the zucchini slices on a large platter. Top with lemon zest and juice, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add fresh basil leaves and pieces of burrata. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and serve immediately.

*TIP: If burrata isn’t available, you can substitute it with fresh mozzarella.