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    Home » Appetizers

    Caprese Salad Recipe (Insalata Caprese)

    Published: Dec 10, 2019 · Modified: Mar 16, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    148 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This caprese salad recipe is an Italian classic made with fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, sweet basil and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. Using fresh and high-quality ingredients is the key to mastering this salad.  

    Salads are a great way to add color and flavor to your meals and we have amazing salad recipes here at Unicrons in the Kitchen. Try our easy Mediterranean salad, caprese pasta salad and this simple tomato cucumber feta salad if you're looking for flavorful and delicious salads. Today we are going to talk about a classic Italian salad called caprese salad, a beautiful and simple salad made with only three ingredients. 

    Table Of Contents:
    • About this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • How to eat this salad
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    About this recipe

    Caprese (pronounced cah-prey-zay) salad, also known as insalata caprese, is a classic Italian salad made with cow's mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil, featuring the colors of the Italian flag which are white, red and green. It was first made in 1920 on the Isle of Capri and became world famous in the 1950s. Like many other Italian dishes, insalata caprese is popular for it's simplicity and fresh flavor.

    This salad is usually seasoned with salt and olive oil or balsamic reduction. It's also common to add some oregano or arugula to this salad. In recent years, buffalo mozzarella is sometimes used instead of cow's mozzarella. This dish is served as an antipasto (starter) in many restaurants. 

    Ingredients

    Classic Italian caprese is made with the following ingredients:

    • Mozzarella cheese: Fresh mozzarella cheese is the best for this recipe. If you have an Italian shop near you where you can find fresh homemade mozzarella, use that for this recipe. Otherwise, store-bought mozzarella packed in water would be fine. You can either use a large ball of mozzarella or mozzarella pearls called Bocconcini. 
    • Tomatoes: You need tomatoes that are fresh, firm and ripe. The tomatoes shouldn't be too hard or too soft for slicing. If making this salad in summer, heirloom tomatoes would be perfect to use. At other times of the year, you can use tomatoes on the vine or cherry tomatoes. 
    • Basil: Fresh basil leaves are perfect for this recipe. 
    • Olive oil: You don't need to get an expensive bottle of olive oil, but make sure it's high quality and extra virgin. Extra virgin olive oil gives such great flavor to this dish. 
    To make this Italian salad, you need tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper.

    Since you only need a few simple items to make this salad, it's important to use high quality ingredients. This is a perfect salad for any time of the year but it's especially well suited to summer when you can have easy access to fresh tomatoes and basil. It makes a great starter and is so simple to make. 

    Instructions

    1. Slice the mozzarella cheese and the tomatoes. 
    2. Arrange them on a plate by layer alternating slices of mozzarella and tomatoes. 
    3. Top with basil leaves (whole or chopped). 
    4. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. 
    5. Serve immediately. 

    This is an easy recipe that you can make in no time with just a few simple ingredients. It's an easy Italian salad that everyone would enjoy as an appetizer.

    As for the dressing, we love ours with some basil oil or balsamic reduction. It gives the salad a nice subtle sweetness that pairs well with the tomatoes and mozzarella. It's also common to serve caprese with pesto, which compliments the mozzarella very well. 

    slice the tomatoes and arrange with the mozzarella. Top with basil and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic.

    How to eat this salad

    Using your fork and knife, transfer a few slices of tomatoes, basil and mozzarella to your plate. Add more salt and pepper if needed and drizzle more olive oil on top. Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into bite size pieces and make sure you have all three components in each bite for maximum flavor. 

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    I'd say this salad tastes much better when made and assembled right before serving. But if you need to make it ahead of time, store the sliced tomatoes and mozzarella in separate containers and assemble with basil leaves and drizzle with olive oil right before serving. 

    How long does it keep?

    Caprese salad is best served fresh but if you have leftovers, store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Season with a bit of salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil before serving it.

    What goes with this salad?

    As mentioned above, this salad is usually served as a starter. You can serve this salad as a starter for dishes such as spinach pesto pasta, Italian beef stew, Italian skillet chicken or Italian sausage pasta if planning an Italian style meal for a weeknight dinner or a party. You can also serve it with minestrone soup for a vegetarian meal.

    Two plates on a white surface, one has tomatoes and mozzarella and the other has caprese salad topped with balsamic vinegar.

    Variations

    Here are some variations to consider if you would like to change things up a bit:

    • Chopped: Chop all the ingredients into bite size pieces and mix them in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze if desired. 
    • Cucumber caprese salad: Add one chopped English cucumber to the salad.  
    • Lettuce caprese salad: To make this salad for a large crowd, you can fill a large salad bowl with chopped lettuce and top it with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. 
    You can top this salad with olive oil or balsamic vinegar.

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    More Salad Recipes

    • Burrata with Tomatoes and Peach
    • Turkish Smoky Eggplant Salad Recipe
    • Beet Salad Recipe With Feta And Zaatar
    • Ensalada Rusa (Russian Salad - Olivier Salad)

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Italian Caprese Salad Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    This caprese salad recipe is an Italian classic made with fresh mozzarella and juicy tomatoes. It takes only 10 minutes to make this salad and fresh and quality ingredients is the key to its great flavor.  
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 323 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 large tomatoes
    • 8 oz fresh mozzarella
    • 8 basil leaves
    • 4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon balsamic glaze see notes
    • salt
    • black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Slice the tomatoes into 8 slices. Set aside.
    • Slice the mozzarella cheese into 8 slices as well.
    • Layer the tomato and mozzarella slices alternatively on a serving plate.
    • Top with basil leaves.
    • Drizzle olive oil and balsamic glaze on top. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    • You can use homemade balsamic glaze for this recipe. 
    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 323kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 13gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 360mgPotassium: 259mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1184IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 295mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    148 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. maryanne

      July 22, 2021 at 11:25 am

      5 stars
      I love a good caprese salad in the summer! Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
    2. Tara

      July 22, 2021 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      One of my favorite summertime salad! Such a wonderful use of ripe tomatoes. I love how easily it all comes together too.

      Reply
    3. Heather Johnson

      July 22, 2021 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      i eat this at least once a week for dinner - love it!

      Reply
    4. Lima Ekram

      July 22, 2021 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      What a tasty salad! looks so delicious!

      Reply
    5. Raksha Kamat

      July 22, 2021 at 9:10 am

      5 stars
      I love my salads to be colorful and healthy, just like this caprese salad.

      Reply
    6. Toni

      April 22, 2021 at 8:04 am

      5 stars
      I love how simple and tasty it is!! So delish!

      Reply
    7. Michelle

      April 22, 2021 at 7:35 am

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious salad! Simple to make, and perfect to enjoy on the patio!

      Reply
    8. Jenn

      April 22, 2021 at 7:22 am

      5 stars
      This is my favorite summer time salad. I had no idea it was so easy to make! I'm going to make this often once my tomatoes come in. Yum!

      Reply
    9. veenaazmanov

      April 22, 2021 at 7:15 am

      5 stars
      A Bowl of Health and goodness. Looks so tempting and perfect for a yummy Dinner.

      Reply
    10. Jessica Formicola

      April 22, 2021 at 6:59 am

      5 stars
      I just love how simple and fresh this is! Perfect for the warmer weather we've been having, and easy ingredients too!

      Reply
    11. Haley D. Williams

      December 12, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      5 stars
      Classic! Love the helpful tips in this post

      Reply
    12. Heidy L. McCallum

      December 12, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      Caprese salad is my all-time favorite salad and I really enjoyed this last night. The entire family was thrilled to have it at dinner.

      Reply
    13. Jessica Formicola

      December 12, 2019 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      This is my absolute favorite salad to order at Italian restaurants! So glad to have found a great recipe to make it at home!

      Reply
    14. Alison

      December 12, 2019 at 12:34 pm

      5 stars
      Simple and delicious! The colors are perfect for a Christmas salad.

      Reply
    15. Emily Liao

      December 12, 2019 at 12:14 pm

      5 stars
      Love a good caprese salad! This looks delicious.

      Reply

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    148 shares