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.
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.
Caprese salad is a perfect salad to enjoy the flavors of summer. It’s one of my favorite summer salads along with mango salad, carrot salad, corn salad, green bean salad and watermelon salad. Why not embrace the flavors of summer with a fresh salad?
Table of Contents
Caprese Salad Ingredients
When you make caprese salad you will need tomatoes, small mozzarella balls, basil leaves, olive oil, balsamic glaze, salt and pepper.
How Do You Make Caprese Salad?
The first component of this dish is the tomatoes. Get the best tomatoes you can. The tomatoes are cut into bite sized pieces, then placed in a bowl with fresh mozzarella cheese balls and fresh basil leaves. Sprinkle salt and black pepper into extra virgin olive oil. Drizzle that olive oil over the tomatoes and everything gets tossed together. The finishing touch is a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Tips For The Best Caprese 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.
- 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.
- Serve your salad alongside grilled chicken kabobs, grilled swordfish or grilled lobster tail for a light and summery meal.
Quick Tip
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.
Recipe FAQs
Caprese salad is an Italian salad that consists of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, olive oil, salt and pepper. Often times you will also see balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze on this salad. This 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.
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.
Caprese salad means “salad of Capri.” The island of Capri is an Italian island known for its beauty and resorts. As related to food, caprese means having tomato, mozzarella, basil and olive oil. A caprese salad features those main ingredients.
While fresh mozzarella is a traditional cheese for caprese salad, you could also use a ball of burrata cheese. You could set a ball of burrata in a shallow bowl and place the caprese salad around the burrata. You could also use other mild cheeses in your salad like feta cheese, fontina cheese or regular low moisture mozzarella cheese.
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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 diced grilled chicken breast, chickpeas, grilled 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.
I make this salad on repeat during the summer tomato season when tomatoes are at their peak ripeness. It’s also a perfect side dish for picnics and grilling. This delicious salad has a short prep time and bold flavor that is perfect all summer long.
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Caprese Salad
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.
Notes
- 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.
Delicious summer salad, perfect for a recent potluck! Fresh, flavorful, and really easy to make too! Thanks!
The fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil leaves created a perfect harmony of flavors. Drizzled with balsamic glaze, it was a simple yet elegant dish that brought a touch of Italy to my dinner table.
Love this recipe. I will try this soon! thanks for sharing