• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Appetizers » Caprese Salad Recipe

Published: July 24, 2019 Last Modified: July 24, 2019 By Sara 19 Comments

Caprese Salad Recipe

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Caprese Salad Recipe | Tomato Salad #salad #tomato #mozzarella #cheese #basil #caprese #summer #dinneratthezoo

This traditional caprese salad is a blend of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil and seasonings, all drizzled with balsamic glaze. A classic summer salad that is a must-have at any picnic or gathering!

I love to make the most of summer tomatoes by showcasing them in recipes like tomato avocado salad, stuffed tomatoes, and this super easy tomato mozzarella dish.

Caprese Salad Recipe | Tomato Salad #salad #tomato #mozzarella #cheese #basil #caprese #summer #dinneratthezoo Caprese Salad Recipe | Tomato Salad #salad #tomato #mozzarella #cheese #basil #caprese #summer #dinneratthezoo

Caprese salad with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves and balsamic glaze.

Every spring I plant a variety of tomato plants in my garden in hopes of getting a bounty of fresh tomatoes during the summer. Sometimes I get lucky and get a nice crop, other times my kids pluck all of the tomatoes off the plants before I can get to them! My favorite way to showcase tomatoes is a caprese salad and I’ve been on a mission to create my perfect version of the classic recipe.

What is caprese salad?

Caprese salad means “salad of Capri” and is an Italian dish that consists of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, olive oil, salt and pepper. Often time you will also see balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze on this salad. Italian tomato salad can be served with large slices of tomato and mozzarella, or the tomatoes and cheese can be diced into smaller pieces for a more bite sized salad.

Quartered tomatoes in a bowl.

How do you make caprese salad?

The first component of this dish is the tomatoes – get the best tomatoes you can. If you don’t grow your own, stop by your local farmer’s market to pick some up. The tomatoes are cut into bite sized pieces, then placed in a bowl with fresh mozzarella balls and basil leaves. A drizzle of olive oil goes over the top, and everything gets tossed together. The finishing touch is a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Tomatoes, mozzarella and basil in a bowl.

Tips for the best tomato salad

  • You can use vine ripened tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Campari tomatoes or Roma tomatoes for this recipe. Choose whatever is in season and fresh.
  • I like to use whole small basil leaves, but you can chop your basil if you prefer.
  • I use small mozzarella balls known as ciliegine, they come packed in tubs of water in the deli section. You can also dice a ball of fresh mozzarella into cubes.
  • Balsamic glaze is a thickened balsamic vinegar with a richer, more complex taste. You can find this glaze at most grocery stores near the vinegars or salad dressings.

Olive oil being poured over tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves.

Tomato salad variations

This salad is delicious as-is, but you can add a variety of other ingredients to customize this recipe to your tastes.

  • Protein: Add up to 1 cup of grilled diced chicken, chickpeas, cooked shrimp or white beans. You can also add 1/2 cup of cooked crumbled bacon.
  • Vegetables: Amp up the veggie factor with the addition of avocado, zucchini noodles, artichoke hearts or roasted peppers.
  • Herbs: Add up to 1/4 cup of mixed herbs such as parsley, dill and chives.

A serving spoon of caprese salad with tomato, mozzarella and basil.

How long does Caprese salad last in the fridge?

Caprese salad is best served immediately after it’s made. You can store it in the fridge for up to 6 hours, just be aware that tomatoes tend to get mealy after they’ve been in the refrigerator for an extended period of time.

I make this salad on repeat all summer long; it’s too good not to!

MORE SALAD RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Chickpea Avocado Salad
  • Black Bean and Corn Salad
  • Israeli Salad
  • Broccoli Salad
  • Tortellini Salad
Caprese salad with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves and balsamic glaze.
Print Pin
5 from 8 votes

Caprese Salad

This traditional caprese salad is a blend of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil and seasonings, all drizzled with balsamic glaze. A classic summer salad that is a must-have at any picnic or gathering!
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 232kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 5 cups tomatoes cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 1/4 cups small mozzarella balls such as ciliegine
  • 1/2 cup small basil leaves
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze

Instructions

  • Place the tomatoes, mozzarella balls and basil leaves in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, salt and pepper.
  • Pour the olive oil over the tomato mixture and toss gently to coat.
  • Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the salad, then serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 363mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield. This post was originally published on June 22, 2016 and was updated on July 24, 2019 with new content.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Appetizers, Eat Your Veggies, Salads

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Fried Green Beans
    Mushroom Steak Sauce »

    Comments

    1. Cora says

      June 5, 2021 at 7:43 pm

      5 stars
      I made this today with farmers market fresh home grown tomatoes and it was amazing!

      Reply
    2. sheenam @ thetwincookingproject says

      July 28, 2019 at 1:36 am

      Classis salad made super easy!! YUMMMMMM!

      Reply
    3. Jen says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:40 am

      5 stars
      I was looking for a recipe to use of extra mozzarella balls in this was a hit and my family. We had it for brunch on Sunday. Will have it again.

      Reply
    4. Diana Reis says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect time of year for this salad. Lots of flavor, easy to make, and I never have to turn on my oven. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    5. Sapana says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious salad!! Love how fresh the tomatoes are and the simple, whole ingredients used to make it. Yum!

      Reply
    6. Raia Todd says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:08 am

      5 stars
      Mmmmm… those little balls of mozzarella would be a delicious addition to any salad! Haha. This looks so good!

      Reply
    7. Emily says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:07 am

      This is what I live on in the summers once my tomatoes are ripe! I also love subbing in other fruits like peaches sometimes. YUM!

      Reply
    8. Francine says

      August 26, 2018 at 10:55 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is like all my favorite flavors together. It’s the best.

      Reply
    9. Countryrose says

      August 3, 2018 at 9:01 am

      I wish you had the recipe type up to print out. Looks so good!!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        August 3, 2018 at 5:14 pm

        Thanks for bringing this to my attention, somehow the recipe card got removed. It’s there now!

        Reply
    10. Cynthia says

      July 4, 2018 at 5:13 pm

      I am unable to save this to my Pinterest board.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        July 8, 2018 at 7:48 am

        Are you trying to pin from my site or from pinterest?

        Reply
    11. Ania says

      June 25, 2017 at 7:00 am

      My kind of food, love the recipe!

      Reply
    12. Bianca says

      June 26, 2016 at 8:23 pm

      This looks great!! Can’t wait to try it myself.

      Reply
    13. cheri says

      June 23, 2016 at 6:42 pm

      5 stars
      This looks beautiful and delicious and a salad that my husband would eat.

      Reply
    14. Sam says

      June 23, 2016 at 4:36 pm

      I’ve got huge tomatoe plants in my garden so this recipe works for me.

      Reply
    15. Beatrice says

      June 23, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Caprese salad is my favorite and live the additions to this salad!

      Reply
    16. Deb says

      June 23, 2016 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t wait to make this salad with bacon! Bacon adds such flavor to everything!

      Reply
    17. Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says

      June 23, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      This is even better than a BLT! How beautiful and that bacon must really add that extra something special to the juicy ripe tomatoes – a wonderful salad!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Winter Soups

    A pot of vegetable soup filled with colorful veggies, potatoes and herbs.

    Vegetable Soup

    A pot of New England clam chowder topped with oyster crackers, bacon and parsley.

    New England Clam Chowder

    A pot of Mexican chicken soup with colorful veggies and potatoes, all topped with cilantro.

    Mexican Chicken Soup

    A pot of turkey chili served with cornbread.

    Turkey Chili Recipe

    Italian meatball soup with beef meatballs, ditalini pasta and vegetables in a tomato broth.

    Italian Meatball Soup

    A bowl of lasagna soup topped with ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

    Lasagna Soup

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    Beef and broccoli stir fry in a pan.

    Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

    A hand putting a piece of bread into artichoke dip.

    Artichoke Dip Recipe

    Veggie pinwheels on a board filled with bell peppers, carrots, cabbage and spinach.

    Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels

    Grilled chicken salad with bacon, veggies and blue cheese.

    Grilled Chicken Salad

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food