This easy Caprese salad is filled with ripe tomatoes, mozzarella balls, fresh basil and then topped with a homemade balsamic glaze for a simple summer side dish!
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Tomato Mozzarella Salad
This is one of my favorite dishes to bring to a BBQ. It’s so fresh and flavorful and incredibly simple to whip up. Some of my other top picks are pasta salad with Italian dressing, Greek salad and cucumber tomato salad.
A fresh Caprese salad is the ultimate summer side dish! You just can’t go wrong with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil topped with balsamic. For an easy appetizer, I love to layer it on toast for bruschetta Caprese or make Caprese bread. I have even made Caprese pizza!
A classic Caprese salad recipe is made with slices of tomatoes, sliced mozzarella and larger pieces of basil on top. While I love the original version, I find chopping the ingredients is much easier to eat and perfect for a serving a crowd.
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Tomatoes: I prefer to use cherry tomatoes because they are a great size and hold up really well. I add in about 1 pint, sliced in half.
- Basil: Make sure to use fresh basil leaves. It makes all the difference and adds so much flavor.
- Mozzarella: I love to use mini fresh mozzarella balls because they are the perfect size! No additional slicing required. If you can’t find them, you can dice up a big mozzarella ball into 1-inch pieces.
- Dressing: The balsamic dressing is simple, yet super flavorful. It consists of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, black pepper and dried oregano. If you don’t have oregano, you can mix in dried thyme instead.
- Optional: I love to drizzle on some balsamic reduction glaze right before serving. You can either make your own or buy it from the store.
How to Make Caprese Salad
The simplicity of this salad is allowing the fresh summer flavors to shine through for an absolutely delicious taste!
- Combine ingredients. Place the tomatoes, mozzarella balls and fresh chopped basil in a large bowl.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and dried oregano.
- Toss salad in dressing. Pour the dressing over the tomato mixture and toss to combine. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Before serving, add more basil and S&P to taste. Drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired.
Expert Tips
- You can make your own balsamic glaze or use a store bought version.
- Can add in extras like sliced avocados or even mix in some fresh pesto for more basil flavor.
- This dish tastes best if served immediately, however it can be refrigerated for up to 1 day in an airtight container.
- For a traditional caprese salad, add sliced vine tomatoes, sliced mozzarella and larger pieces of basil to a large plate. Then sprinkle salt and pepper on top and drizzle on some olive oil.
- Bulk it up with some cooked pasta to make a caprese pasta salad.
How to Serve Caprese Salad
This salad is delicious as is or try it piled on toast with some smashed avocado. You can make a light meal out of it or pair with these main dishes.
- Summertime BBQ: Try it as a side with hamburgers, grilled chicken or grilled steak.
- Parties. For potlucks, baby showers or wedding showers, I love to serve with a cucumber sandwich.
- Chicken dinner: Try it with chicken kabobs and some grilled potatoes.
- Seafood: Grilled shrimp skewers or salmon are also delicious alongside this Caprese salad.
This salad is name after the island of Capri where it is said to have originated. Capri is an island in Italy and this salad is called ‘Insalata Caprese’ which translates to the salad of Capri.
If you would like to. You can opt to season with only salt, pepper and olive oil. I find this works best when tomatoes are at their peak during the summertime. The balsamic adds additional flavor during months where tomatoes are not in season.
For this chopped Caprese salad, I prefer halved cherry tomatoes although grape tomatoes work as well. If you are layering slices of the salad, heirloom tomatoes are popular.
Fresh mozzarella is a key ingredient in this salad. You could try fresh burrata cheese but I would not use low moisture or part-skim mozzarella as it will change the texture of the salad and add additional salt.
Can’t get enough Caprese recipes? Me either! Try these Caprese kabobs, grilled Caprese sandwich and one pot chicken Caprese pasta.
More Tomato Recipes
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Caprese Salad Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes , sliced in half
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano or thyme
- ¼ cup chopped basil
- 1 cup mozzarella balls
Balsamic glaze, for serving
Instructions
- Place the tomatoes, mozzarella balls and freshly chopped basil in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and dried oregano.
- Pour the dressing over the tomato mixture and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Add more basil or salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 4th of July, Reader Favorites, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Followed the recipe exactly as written! Wonderful! I will definitely make this again.
Thank you
I’m so happy that you liked it! Thanks for the comment and review, Joy :)
What is balsamic glaze that you said to drizzle on top of the cypress salad?
Hi Crystal! Balsamic glaze is balsamic vinegar reduced with a little honey. You can find it at the store, but I typically make my own. Here’s my recipe: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/balsamic-glaze/
I love most everything in this recipe but I’m a big fan of mozzarella cheese in chunk form. Do you think it would taste the same with a good shredded mozzarella cheese? Or can you suggest a cheese that would also work and taste good.
Hi Darlene! I would probably cut a block of mozzarella in cubes before adding shredded to this recipe. It helps separate the flavors a bit more!
This is a delicious salad and we have made it lots this summer. It makes more sauce than I need so I save it for later to drizzle over sliced tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese (than broiled).
Oh my goodness this looks so tasty! I can’t wait to make this!
Absolutely my favorite salad! I just love all of the fresh ingredients and the fresh mozzarella balls are my favorite!
I love a good caprese salad, so easy to make and delicious!
Amazing, Quick n very tasty
Was absolutely delicious. Definitely recommend eating it all the same day for the best flavor
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Caprese is one of my favorites!
I really love everything about this salad! It is so good!!
This sounds healthy and delicious!
Such a delicious way to enjoy summer tomatoes! The balsamic dressing used is amazing and brings so many flavors.
I made this and it was amazing! I didn’t have oregano and used thyme instead and I don’t think I’ll go back to using oregano again.
This is the perfect summer dish! I love these flavors!
Such a great salad for dinner! So robust and flavorful, and perfectly light! Delicious!
One of my all-time favorites, this looks delicious!
Always so fresh and delicious! Can’t wait for my garden tomatoes to get ripe!