• 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 » Salads » Cherry Tomato Salad

July 3, 2018 By Sara 25 Comments

Cherry Tomato Salad

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This summery cherry tomato salad is made with ripe cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, herbs and red onions, all tossed in a light garlic and herb dressing. A fun take on the classic caprese salad!

Tomato and mozzarella salad is a traditional summer side dish that never goes out of style. This version uses cherry tomatoes and bite sized mozzarella balls and is perfect for a pot luck or barbecue.

Cherry Tomato Salad Recipe | Tomato Mozzarella Salad | Caprese Salad | Tomato Salad #tomatoes #salad #tomatosalad #caprese #dinneratthezoo Cherry Tomato Salad Recipe | Tomato Mozzarella Salad | Caprese Salad | Tomato Salad #tomatoes #salad #tomatosalad #caprese #dinneratthezoo

Cherry tomato salad with halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and red onion, all tossed with herbs and dressing.

I often like to throw together salads that don’t contain lettuce for a nice snack. Of course, they work as a side dish just as well and one of my favorites is this cherry tomato salad. If you’re a tomato lover like me, you’ll be tempted to eat it all once that first tomato hits your taste buds.

HOW DO YOU MAKE CHERRY TOMATO SALAD?

The hardest part to this tomato and mozzarella salad is attempting to not eat it while making it. Place your fresh tomatoes, red onion, mozzarella balls, and herbs in a large bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ingredients for your dressing and pour it over the top of the tomato mixture. Lightly toss and you’ve got a tasty snack or side that only takes minutes to make.

A bowl of halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, herbs and minced red onion.

If you prefer grape tomatoes, those work just as well but cherry tomatoes are usually my go-to. I think it’s really fun to get the colorful cherry tomatoes you usually find at the Farmer’s Market and use those in this tomato and mozzarella salad. It makes for quite a gorgeous side dish with little effort involved.

Cherry tomatoes, herbs, mozzarella balls and red onion drizzled with dressing in a bowl.

If you don’t have parsley on hand, you can use basil, dill or chives instead and the flavor will still be amazing. If you want to further liven up your cherry tomato salad, a light drizzle of balsamic glaze is a great addition!

A bowl of cherry tomato salad with a serving spoon in it.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRAPE TOMATOES AND CHERRY TOMATOES?

That’s a great question that many people don’t know the answer to. Grape tomatoes tend to be smaller (about half the size) and more oblong shaped than cherry tomatoes. Grape tomatoes have a thicker skin and aren’t as sweet as cherry tomatoes. I find that grape tomatoes are more readily available at the grocery store these days. You can use either grape or cherry tomatoes in this salad with the same results.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO SERVE A TOMATO SALAD?

It’s always best to serve dishes that contain a lot of fresh ingredients like this tomato and mozzarella salad, immediately. Many people don’t know or realize that tomatoes change texture after being cut then refrigerated. Therefore, the freshest salad, especially if it has tomatoes, is best served as soon as possible.

A serving bowl of tomato mozzarella salad with cherry tomatoes, herbs and red onion.

There couldn’t be an easier side dish than this cherry tomato salad. The salad has been a huge hit with family and friends so I always keep it in my arsenal when party plans start brewing. Time is rarely on my side so I need easy recipes like this to keep me sane! Plus it’s the perfect way to showcase all those fresh summer tomatoes.

MORE SALAD RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Cucumber Tomato Salad
  • Black Bean and Corn Salad
  • Watermelon Salad with Feta
  • Tropical Fruit Salad
  • Spaghetti Salad
Cherry tomato salad with halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and red onion, all tossed with herbs and dressing.
Print Pin
5 from 10 votes

Cherry Tomato Salad

This summery cherry tomato salad is made with ripe cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, herbs and red onions, all tossed in a light garlic and herb dressing. A fun take on the classic caprese salad!
Course Salad
Cuisine Italian
Keyword caprese salad, cherry tomato salad, tomato mozzarella salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 184kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cherry or grape tomatoes halved
  • 2 cups fresh mozzarella balls halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, chives, green onions, oregano
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place the tomatoes, mozzarella balls, red onion and herbs in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, oregano, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour the dressing over the tomato mixture and gently toss to coat evenly. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 226mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 485IU | Vitamin C: 23.2mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Light & Healthy, Salads Tagged With: Mozzarella, Tomatoes

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

« Frozen Fruit Smoothie
30 Air Fryer Recipes »

Comments

  1. Donna says

    August 18, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    Could I use goat cheese instead of mozzarella?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      August 18, 2020 at 8:00 pm

      Yes that’s fine!

      Reply
  2. Shay says

    July 21, 2020 at 1:55 pm

    What other kind of vinegar can I use?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 21, 2020 at 4:20 pm

      Balsamic would work!

      Reply
  3. Julia Frost says

    June 25, 2020 at 4:50 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy, and easy, too! We both enjoyed it.

    Reply
  4. Joy says

    May 22, 2020 at 8:34 am

    This looks amazing. I am definitely making it!
    Can it be prepared a day aheaf?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 22, 2020 at 12:19 pm

      That should be fine!

      Reply
  5. Mark D Gonzales says

    April 12, 2020 at 10:20 am

    Does sound good, going to try it with blackened shrimp n make a meal out of it. Let u know how it tastes

    Reply
  6. Linda Hughes says

    March 6, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    Can you make the sauce ahead of time?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 9, 2020 at 10:55 am

      Yes that works!

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    February 6, 2020 at 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    I love this salad so much and so did the rest of my family I did add zucchini and cauliflower. But even if I didn’t I would love it.

    Reply
  8. Beatrice says

    July 22, 2019 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    Here in CA our garden tomatoes are overflowing and I love to make this recipe! Nice for lunch too!

    Reply
  9. Debbie says

    February 11, 2019 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    I’m a fan of this salad! I change up the fresh herbs for variety!

    Reply
  10. doleroll says

    November 10, 2018 at 2:18 pm

    Thank you for the recipe but where’s the garlic in the “garlic and herb dressing”?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 12, 2018 at 8:06 am

      You’re right, that got omitted by accident. Thanks for catching it!

      Reply
  11. Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says

    July 7, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    5 stars
    I love caprese salads and you’ve taken it up a notch with this recipe! I will sure to try making this salad soon!

    Reply
  12. mya kroeplin says

    July 5, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    fresh mozzarella makes all the difference in this. looks amazing!

    Reply
  13. rika says

    July 5, 2018 at 9:22 am

    I make a similar cherry tomato salad almost everyday this summer! So light and easy! My kids love mozzarella balls.

    Reply
  14. Jeanine says

    July 5, 2018 at 6:05 am

    Oh my goodness what a delicious and colourful salad! I know for a fact this would be a huge hit in my house! It looks just yummy!

    Reply
  15. Meeta says

    July 4, 2018 at 10:04 pm

    This is one of our favorite salads. When our tomatoes are ripe – we cannot get enough of it. Have you every tried it with a few slices of peaches? Great!

    Reply
  16. Karen Morse says

    July 4, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    5 stars
    I agree, this makes a nice snack or a great side dish! I think it’s always been a lovely combination, the mozzarella definitely compliments the cherry tomatoes! I am a huge fan of easy to make recipes like this!

    Reply
  17. Amber Myers says

    July 4, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    I would love this. I am all about tomatoes and mozzarella. I’m going to make this soon! Heck, I could make this and be content with it. I wouldn’t need anything else.

    Reply
  18. Glenda Cates says

    July 4, 2018 at 12:46 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so yummy and I can’t wait to make it for my mother in law for her Lunch as she loves all kinds of Tomatoes.

    Reply
  19. Tasheena says

    July 4, 2018 at 11:31 am

    5 stars
    This salad looks so delicious! Would be perfect to make for dinner today. I love summer recipes that include cherry tomatoes.

    Reply
  20. Melissa Chapman says

    July 4, 2018 at 9:01 am

    5 stars
    The tomato and mozzarrella is so good together and the italian influence is so great. On ahot day this looks so cool and refreshing.

    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
category category category category category category category

Categories

Sites I am featured In
PRIVACY POLICY © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2018.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food