Caprese Salad

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.

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.

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

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.

🔴 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.