Last Updated on 15th August 2022 by Pauline Loughlin
Caprese salad, known as insalata Caprese in Italian, is a fresh tomato salad with fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and other ingredients. There are tons of variations of this delicious dish, but I prefer to keep mine light and simple.
What other ingredients can you add to a Caprese salad?
Some recipes add ingredients like balsamic vinegar, but I feel this tends to overpower the fresh flavour of the tomatoes and the delicate taste of the cheese. Instead, I just use lemon juice with a little extra virgin olive oil. The lemon enhances the flavours of the other ingredients instead over masking them.
My Fresh and Easy Caprese Salad Recipe
This classic salad is so easy to make but adds a unique set of flavours to the table, great as a main meal or a side dish or just to have a large bowl on the table during dinner parties.
Ingredients
- 3 medium sized fresh tomatoes
- 8 -oz log fresh mozzarella
- Handful of fresh basil leaves
- 2 lemons
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice tomatoes and mozzarella to the same thickness, whatever size you prefer is fine. I like mine fairly thick.
- Roll basil leaves into a log and slice into long, thin strips (called chiffonade), or leave them whole if you prefer.
- Alternate tomato and mozzarella slices in a circular pattern on your plate.
- Squeeze juice of one or two lemons, depending on how tart you’d like the flavor to be, over the tomatoes and mozzarella.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Lightly pour a little olive oil over the top, but be careful not to drown it. A light drizzle is fine.
- Spread basil leaves or chiffonade evenly over the top and serve.
Notes
This will serve about 4 people as an appetizer or side dish, or 2 people if you really love it. My husband and I easily eat a whole plate full between the two of us! It is so good and so healthy, so enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 200Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 369mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 12g
Be sure you’re using fresh mozzarella and not the firm slightly yellow version you might shred to use for pizza or lasagna. Fresh mozzarella has a delicate flavour and softer texture. You can find it sold in logs or balls. Either one works fine, but I find the logs easier to slice. Sometimes you can even find the logs pre-sliced
Frequently Asked Questions About Caprese Salads
How healthy is a Caprese salad?
Due. to the large amounts of mozzarella contained in this dish it isn’t the healthiest option with relatively high fat content at 14g
What goes with a Caprese salad?
Tomatoes, onion, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and basil are the staple ingredients of a Caprese salad
Which tomatoes are best for Caprese?
Large salad tomatoes or fresh vine tomatoes work best with a Caprese salad.
What can I substitute for basil in Caprese salad?
You can substitute the basil in a Caprese salad with mint, tarragon or oregano.
I'm Pauline, a retired patisserie chef, mother of four and now a full time food blogger! When i'm not cooking i love long walks, reading thriller novels and spending time with my grandkids. Head to my about me page to learn more about the woman behind the food! You can find my Facebook here