This classic Caprese Salad Recipe is bursting with fresh summer flavor for the perfect summer appetizer. Fresh heirloom tomatoes make this dish as beautiful as it is delicious!
This classic, Italian-style Caprese Salad comes to mind when I think of summer. You just can’t beat the combination of fresh heirloom tomatoes, aromatic basil, and delicious fresh mozzarella drizzled with olive oil.
While the ingredients are simple, the quality of each ingredient shines through. Take your time picking out the best tomatoes and the freshest basil, and don’t skimp on the fresh whole-milk mozzarella or the quality of the olive oil.
If you’re lucky enough to have a supply of heirloom tomatoes or can find any of these juicy beauties at your local supermarket, add this recipe to your list, along with our heavenly heirloom tomato tarts and heirloom tomato, peach, and burrata summer plate. This salad can be eaten as an appetizer or as a side dish alongside your dinner on any hot summer day!
What is Caprese Salad?
Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made by layering slices of fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, and fresh mozzarella cheese onto a plate, seasoning with salt and pepper, and drizzling a hefty serving of olive oil over the top.
How to Make Our Easy Caprese Salad Recipe
Ingredients
How to Make Caprese Salad
- Wash tomatoes.
- Arrange tomato slices onto a large platter.
- Tear mozzarella balls into pieces and place them on top of the tomato slices.
- Drizzle oil over tomato and cheese and sprinkle with sea salt flakes and pepper.
- Finish with fresh basil leaves and serve with a side of crusty bread.
Variations
While this is a classic recipe for Caprese salad, there are several ways you can switch it up to make it your own!
- Use cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes if you don’t have heirlooms available or have a surplus of any variety in your garden.
- Some recipes call for a balsamic glaze to be drizzled over the top of Caprese salad, along with the olive oil. While this isn’t traditional, it adds a deep splash of flavor to this otherwise light and fresh-tasting dish.
- Instead of tearing a large ball of mozzarella cheese, you can purchase the small pre-balled mozzarella and add them straight to the salad.
Can Caprese Salad be Made Ahead of Time?
Caprese salad is best when it’s made just before serving. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2-3 days, but the cheese and basil will begin to take on the juices of the tomato, changing in texture.
To save time, you can pre-slice the tomatoes and the cheese but store them separately until read to serve.
Dishes to Serve with Caprese Salad
Caprese salad is a deliciously versatile dish that goes with such a wide variety of foods, but here are a few of our favorites:
More Fresh Tomato Recipes to Consider
Put your tomato harvest to good use with some of our favorite tomato recipes!
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Caprese Salad Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 4 very ripe heirloom tomatoes sliced to 1/4" thickness
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella
- 1/4 cup high quality olive oil
- sea salt flakes and pepper to taste
- fresh basil leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
- Arrange tomato slices onto a large platter.
- Tear mozzarella balls into pieces and top tomato slices.
- Drizzle oil over tomato and cheese and sprinkle with sea salt flakes and pepper.
- Finish with fresh basil leaves and serve with a side of crusty bread.
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