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    Home » Recipes » Salad » Caprese Salad

    Caprese Salad

    Published: Aug 11, 2022 · Modified: Apr 5, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    Flavorful Caprese Salad is made with ripe tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, and fresh basil. It can be served as an appetizer or as a side dish.

    a caprese salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

    Caprese salad is a simple Italian recipe that is the colors of their flag. The classic salad has only olive oil on top, but adding a balsamic glaze has become a popular variation.

    Everything You Need To Make This Recipe

    • Caprese Salad Ingredients
    • How To Make A Caprese Salad
    • Caprese Salad Frequently Asked Questions
    • Want more summer recipes? Try these next:
    ingredients on a marble countertop.

    Caprese Salad Ingredients

    There are only a few ingredients in Caprese salad, so choose the best ones you can get.

    • Tomatoes: We used tomatoes that were about the same size as the mozzarella we bought, but you can use any kind of tomatoes, so go with your favorite ripe ones! If you prefer to make this salad in a bowl, choose grape or cherry tomatoes.
    • Mozzarella Cheese: For this salad, you’ll need fresh, soft mozzarella cheese, which you can find near the deli area of the grocery store. To make this salad in a bowl, you can use mozzarella pearls.
    • Basil: We added basil leaves as well as sliced basil to this salad so that every bite gets a little basil!
    • Olive Oil: Choose a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor!
    • Spices: Season this salad with coarse salt and coarse ground black pepper.
    • Balsamic Glaze: The balsamic glaze is optional, it is not part of the classic salad, but it adds additional flavor if you choose to use it.
    fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, sliced and arranged on a platter with basil leaves and olive oil.

    How To Make A Caprese Salad

    A Caprese salad is ready in minutes! All you need to do is simply slice, assemble, and garnish.

    • Prep: Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into evenly thick slices and then cut the basil into thin strips.
    • Assembly: Arrange the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil on a platter. See the FAQs below for additional options.
    • Garnish: Drizzle the olive oil over the salad, then sprinkle with salt and pepper, and finish with a balsamic glaze, if desired.
    tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella on a platter.

    Caprese Salad Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you eat Caprese salad?

    It is eaten with a fork. Use the fork to cut a piece of tomato and mozzarella to eat together in one bite.

    What do you serve with Caprese salad?

    It can be served with pasta, pizza, chicken, or sandwiches. You can also serve it as an appetizer.

    Can I turn this into a lettuce salad?

    Yes! Cut the tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil into bite sides pieces and put them on top of a bed of fresh lettuce. The salad with olive oil, balsamic glaze, salt, and pepper for the dressing.

    What are some other ways to make this salad?

    When making this for a party, you can serve cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and basil leaves on cocktail picks. Or mix cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil together in a bowl and use the olive oil and balsamic glaze as the dressing.

    a caprese salad on a white serving platter.

    Want more summer recipes? Try these next:

    Chicken Lettuce Wraps are full of flavor and color! The lettuce leaves are used as a taco shell and are filled with chicken and thinly sliced veggies with peanut sauce on top.

    Our family loves this Taco Salad topped with diced tomatoes, sweet corn, black beans, taco meat, diced onions, shredded cheese, and creamy salsa dressing.

    This Mango Chicken Kabobs recipe is perfect for summer! The marinade is made with mango and pineapple pieces as well as coconut milk, pineapple juice, and fresh ginger!

    Lemon Chicken with asparagus is ready in only 10 minutes! It’s a good way to use leftover chicken or you can make it with rotisserie chicken.

    caprese salad on a white dish.

    Caprese Salad

    Flavorful Caprese Salad is made with ripe tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, and fresh basil. It can be served as an appetizer or as a side dish.
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    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
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    Equipment

    Tomato Slicing Knife (2 Pack)
    Calphalon Knife Block Set
    Large Oval Serving Plates
    Bertolli Italian Glaze
    Large Serving Utensils

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium tomatoes
    • 1 lb fresh mozzarella
    • 1 bunch fresh basil
    • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon coarse salt
    • ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
    • 2 teaspoon balsamic glaze optional

    Instructions

    • Slice the tomatoes and fresh mozzarella into 1/4 inch thick slices.
      hands using a knife to slice a tomato.
    • To chiffonade the basil, stack five or six basil leaves, roll them up into a tight roll, and slice them into thin strips.
      a hand using a chef's knife to chop fresh basil.
    • Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices on a platter. Tuck fresh basil leaves between some of the slices and top with the strips of basil.
      slices of tomato and mozzarella cheese laid out on a platter.
    • Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, if desired.
      a hand uses a a squeeze bottle to apply balsamic glaze to a salad.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/6 of salad | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 487mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Italian
    Author: Tonia Larson

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    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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