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Home » Course » Appetizers

Caprese Salad

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August 20, 2022

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Fresh and delicious Italian caprese salad made with juicy tomatoes, mild mozzarella cheese and aromatic basil. Drizzled with balsamic glaze, this salad is absolut perfection.
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caprese salad recipe.
Caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella nd basil with oil and vinegar) stacked on a fork.
Caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella nd basil with oil and vinegar stacked on a fork.

This absolutely beautiful and mouthwatering caprese salad is super easy to make, ready in only 10 minutes and sure to impress your family and guests.

Perfectly seasoned layers of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese and basil leaves make an incredible appetizer or side dish. We especially love serving this vegetarian and gluten free salad alongside grilled meats, fish or pizza.

Caprese salad (tomato, mozzarella and basil) with oil and vinegar stacked on a fork.
Caprese salad on an oval plate.
Caprese salad on a bed of lettuce.

If you want to make your salad extra special, drizzle it with some homemade balsamic reduction. You only need 2 ingredients and 30 minutes for our easy to follow balsamic glaze recipe.

Table of Contents

  • WHAT IS CAPRESE SALAD?
  • CAPRESE SALAD INGREDIENTS
  • INSTRUCTIONS
  • HOW TO MAKE CAPRESE SALAD AHEAD
  • TIPS FOR THE BEST TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA SALAD
  • STORAGE TIPS
  • WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAPRESE SALAD
  • MORE CAPRESE RECIPES
  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • Caprese Salad

WHAT IS CAPRESE SALAD?

Caprese salad is made by layering slices of juicy ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese and aromatic basil leaves on a platter. This Italian classic is traditionally only seasoned with salt, pepper and olive oil. However, adding a drizzle of balsamic reduction has become very popular. As you might have noticed, tomato and mozzarella salad is supposed to represent the Italian flag of green-white-red.

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA RECIPE

✔️ It only takes 10 minutes to make caprese salad.

✔️ Perfect summer side dish for grilled meats and fish. Or eat it as a meal itself.

✔️ A drizzle of balsamic glaze makes this Italian classic even more delicious.

✔️ Looks visually stunning and will surely wow your guests.

Fork stabbing caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella and basil with oil and vinegar)

CAPRESE SALAD INGREDIENTS

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for tomato and mozzarella caprese salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

You may have all of these caprese salad ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

  • Fresh Tomatoes: Make sure your tomatoes are nice and ripe for best flavor. We used regular tomatoes for this recipe but you can also try heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Use fresh mozzarella cheese. You can substitute little mozzarella balls or burrata (buffalo mozzarella). Low moisture mozzarella cheese will not taste nearly as good in this recipe.
  • Fresh Basil: Get a ready to use basil plant at the grocery store. It usually lasts you quite a while to make many delicious recipes. Packaged basil leaves only last for a very short time and start to look unappetizing quite quickly.
  • Olive Oil: We prefer using extra virgin olive oil. Try to use high quality olive oil with this salad as the flavor of the oil really comes through.
  • Balsamic glaze: Use your favorite store bought balsamic reduction or make your own. Have you tired our super easy and quick recipe for homemade balsamic glaze. It tastes incredible!
  • Salt
  • Pepper

VARIATIONS: Try one of the following ideas to change things up:

  • Not a big fan of balsamic glaze? You can easily omit the balsamic reduction and enjoy a more traditional version of this salad.
  • Try topping your salad with a drizzle of pesto.
  • Use burrata (buffalo mozzarella) instead of regular fresh mozzarella.
ingredients for caprese salad

INSTRUCTIONS

This section shows how to make tomato, mozzarella and basil salad with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, nutritional information, to print the recipe or to have the recipe scaled to double or triple, see the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese the same thickness. You should have the same number of tomato slices, mozzarella slices and basil leaves. If your basil leaves are very large you can cut them smaller.

🔴 TIP: Pick the best tomatoes. Make sure your tomatoes are nice and ripe. Try mixing it up by using heirloom tomatoes or make a salad with cherry tomatoes and small mozzarella cheese balls.

tomatoes and mozzarella layered on a plate.
Basil between tomato and mozzarella on a plate.

ARRANGE: Layer tomatoes, cheese and basil on a platter. Arrange them so you can see all the layers. 

🔴 TIP: Use fresh mozzarella cheese, low moisture mozzarella cheese will not taste nearly as good in this recipe.

Oil poured over caprese salad.
Balsamic reduction drizzled on caprese salad.

FINISH: Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper to taste. Then drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

🔴 TIP: Try homemade balsamic reduction. Making your own balsamic glaze only takes 2 ingredients and 30 minutes. It tastes so much better than store bought and is super easy to make. Take a look at our balsamic glaze recipe!

HOW TO MAKE CAPRESE SALAD AHEAD

You can make the salad early by layering the tomatoes, cheese and basil then cover and refrigerate for a few hours. When it’s time to serve, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic reduction. Be careful not to add the salt early, or the tomatoes will release their juices.

TIPS FOR THE BEST TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA SALAD

Follow these tips to make the best caprese salad.

✔️ Use fresh mozzarella. Low moisture mozzarella cheese will not taste nearly as good in this recipe.

✔️ Use ripe tomatoes. Consider vine ripe tomatoes or even heirloom tomatoes.

✔️ Make your own balsamic glaze. We love using store bought balsamic glaze when we’re low on time but you can easily make your own and store the glaze to use in other recipes as well.

✔️ Eat right away! Caprese salad is best fresh.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: You can store the layered BUT unseasoned salad in the fridge for a couple of hours. Make sure to cover the salad with plastic wrap. After adding the salt, pepper and condiments, caprese salad should be eaten right away. We do not recommend storing tomato mozzarella salad as it would loose its texture and get soupy.

close up of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil on a plate, drizzled with balsamic glaze

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAPRESE SALAD

Caprese salad can be served as an appetizer or as a side dish. It pairs especially well with air fryer lemon chicken, grilled chicken marinade, grilled shrimp skewers or other BBQ favorites. Serve with fresh and crispy Greek salad and a side of copycat lion house rolls to complete the meal.

This mouthwatering Italian salad also tastes amazing alongside your favorite pizza. We love it with air fryer pizza bites, meatball calzones, pepperoni calzones and pesto chicken calzones.

MORE CAPRESE RECIPES

If you love love tomato, mozzarella and basil salad you’ll enjoy our caprese stuffed chicken breasts, caprese stuffed portobello mushrooms, caprese chicken thighs or caprese pizza.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For perfect results every time, here are answers to the most common questions about making caprese salad.

Can I omit the balsamic glaze?

You can omit the balsamic glaze if your tomatoes are ripe and sweet. Try seasoning with only salt and pepper and a little extra virgin olive oil for a different taste. Caprese salad isn’t traditionally made with balsamic glaze but it adds a little tangy sweet kick that’s complimentary to the other fresh ingredients.

What kind of tomatoes should I use for this salad?

Feel free to try any kind of tomatoes you like. We recommend using roma, heirloom, cherry or campari tomatoes.

Does it matter what kind of mozzarella I use?

Yes. We recommend to use only fresh mozzarella for this salad. You can also substitute small mozzarella cheese balls or burrata (buffalo mozzarella), but do not use low moisture mozzarella cheese.

caprese salad recipe.
5 from 2 votes

Caprese Salad


Course Salad
Cuisine Italian, vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
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4 servings
Fresh and delicious Italian caprese salad made with juicy tomatoes, mild mozzarella cheese and aromatic basil. Drizzled with balsamic glaze, this salad is absolut perfection.
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Equipment

  • knife and cutting board
  • serving platter

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 medium tomatoes fresh and ripe
  • 16 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 15-20 fresh basil leaves
  • 1-2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
  • 1-2 tbsps Balsamic glaze homemade or store bought
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions

  • Slice tomatoes and fresh mozzarella to the same thickness. There should be the same number of tomato slices and mozzarella cheese slices.
  • On a platter or charcuterie board, layer slices of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese so you can see all the layers.
    tomatoes and mozzarella layered on a plate.
  • Tuck a whole basil leaf between the cheese and tomatoes.
    Basil between tomato and mozzarella on a plate.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
    Oil poured over caprese salad.
  • Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of balsamic glaze.
    Balsamic reduction drizzled on caprese salad.

Notes

Recipe Notes:
  • Use fresh mozzarella cheese. Low moisture mozzarella cheese will not taste nearly as good in this recipe.
  • Make sure your tomatoes are nice and ripe.
  • Try mixing it up by using heirloom tomatoes or make a salad with cherry tomatoes and small mozzarella cheese balls.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 717mg | Potassium: 382mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1870IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 588mg | Iron: 1mg

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posted in: Appetizers, Cheese, Course, Cuisine, Diet, Gluten Free, Ingredient, Italian Inspired, Method, No Cook, Salads, Side Dish, tomato, Vegetarian

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