This easy caprese salad layers juicy tomato slices with fresh mozzarella and basil. It’s delicious paired with crusty bread for an appetizer or grilled protein for a meal.
Don’t even get me started on perfectly ripe, juicy tomatoes. Every summer we load up on fresh, local tomatoes from nearby farmers, Isaac’s parents or our own backyard plants. At any given time during the summer we have at least 20 tomatoes on our kitchen counter. We eat them at just about every meal and make a ton of different tomato recipes… which is where this caprese salad came about!
It’s the perfect appetizer for a summer shindig. Not only does it highlight two ingredients that are abundant (and cheap) during the summer months, but it’s amazingly flavorful without requiring a ton of ingredients.
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Why You’ll Love This Salad
- Easy – You only need 5 simple ingredients (plus salt + pepper) to make this salad and it comes together in about 10 minutes!
- Fresh – The combination of ripe juicy tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella cheese creates the ultimate refreshing summer side dish.
- Versatile – Serve it as a light lunch or appetizer or pair it with grilled chicken or another protein of choice for a full meal.
Ingredients Needed
Fresh tomatoes and basil are key ingredients for this salad and if you don’t have perfectly ripe tomatoes, I honestly don’t recommend making it. Caprese salad is really only as good as the tomatoes you’re using.
- ripe tomatoes – like I mentioned above, tomatoes are the star of the show here so make sure you have tomatoes that are perfect ripe and juicy.
- fresh basil – another key ingredient.
- fresh mozzarella – a fresh mozzarella cheese ball works great for caprese salad.
- olive oil – Caprese salad is a great time to break out your fancy olive oil! Since you’re not cooking the oil you’ll really be able to taste its subtle flavor.
- balsamic vinegar – the same goes for the balsamic vinegar… I recommend using the best balsamic you have on hand! That said, if you decide to make a balsamic reduction (see below) you can use a less expensive option.
- sea salt and fresh ground pepper – I highly recommend using fresh cracked pepper from a grinder and flaked sea salt for extra flavor. We’re hooked on Maldon sea salt flakes.
Recipe Variations
There are many, many caprese salad recipes out there. The concept is relatively simple — alternating layers of mozzarella, tomato and basil. I kept it super simple for this version (sometimes simple is best!) but there are a ton of ways to upgrade a caprese salad. Here are some things to experiment with:
- Add additional fresh herbs to the mix like fresh parsley, thyme or oregano
- Sprinkle on dried Italian seasoning
- Add capers, roasted garlic or roasted red peppers to the mix
- Sprinkle on crushed red pepper for some heat
- Add avocado slices for some creaminess
- Make it dairy-free by using Miyokos vegan mozzarella made from cashews.
How to Make Caprese Salad
Step 1: On a plate or serving dish arrange fresh mozzarella and tomato slices in alternating layers. Add a basil leaf between each layer.
Step 2: Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle on olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Tip!
The key to an outstanding Caprese salad is using the freshest mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil you can find. Fresh, high-quality ingredients make all the difference in flavor and texture, elevating this simple dish to something truly special.
How to Make a Simple Balsamic Reduction (Balsamic Glaze)
If I have time I like to make a balsamic reduction for drizzling over the caprese salad. The reduction is sweeter, thicker and tends to stick to the tomatoes and mozzarella better. Making a balsamic reduction is really easy. Here’s how:
- In a small saucepan, add 1 cup of balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and let the vinegar simmer for 10-15 minutes
- Once it’s reduced down by 1/2 remove from heat and let cool
How to Serve Caprese Salad
Caprese salad can be served as an appetizer, a light lunch or as a side salad with dinner. It pairs amazingly well with whole grain crusty bread and grilled protein. It would be delicious with my grilled apple cider vinegar chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use cherry tomatoes. Simply halve them and layer them with the mozzarella and basil for a different texture.
Caprese salad is best served fresh, but it will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The flavors will meld together, but the texture of the tomatoes and mozzarella might soften.
Yes, you can prepare the salad up to 30 minutes in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic vinegar just before serving to keep the ingredients fresh.
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