Quick, easy and delicious, this Italian caprese salad is perfect to serve as an appetizer or a side dish. Made with simple ingredients and finished with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing, it’s ready to serve in less than 10 minutes.
I’m not much of a salad person but there are always times when you want to accompany your meals with something fresh and delicious. This is without doubt my favorite salad ever!
It’s perfect to serve as an accompaniment to any main meals, I love serving Insalata Caprese with my grilled chicken skewers. It’s such a fresh and flavorful dish that’s great to serve by itself as a delicious appetizer.
Caprese Salad Ingredients
- Tomatoes: Use large rip tomatoes for the best dish. I like to use ones on the vine or large plum tomatoes that have the sweetest and freshest flavors.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Use fresh mozzarella cheese, I like to use a whole milk one that is really creamy.
- Basil Leaves: The basil leaves adds a unique freshness and flavor.
- Olive Oil: If you have extra virgin olive oil, then use this to drizzle over the salad rather than cooking olive oil.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Balsamic adds a tasty tang that cuts through the creamy cheese.
- Dried Parsley and Basil: A little sprinkling adds a wonderful herby aroma and flavor to each bite.
- Salt and Pepper: Added to taste to bring out the flavors from the other ingredients.
How To Make Caprese Salad
This is such a quick, simple and scrumptious salad that I cannot think of any reason why one wouldn’t make it on a regular bases. Specially, during small gathering. It is great as an appetizer or as a side dish for lunch or dinner. Making it is so easy.
- Just cut the tomatoes and mozzarella into slightly thick slices and place them on a pretty platter with the basil leaves, alternating.
- Then, drizzle them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Finally, sprinkle with dried parsley, basil, salt and pepper.
That is all! In 10 minutes, you’ll be enjoying an amazing, super delicious healthy salad. Did I mentioned it looks pretty too? No?
Well then, it’s so pretty!
Why is it called caprese salad?
This simple caprese salad, originates from Italy. It is from the island of Capri, and insalata caprese literally translates to ‘salad of Capri.’
Can you make it ahead of time?
You don’t want to make this salad too far ahead of time, otherwise the mozzarella and tomatoes can dry out. You can slice the cheese and tomatoes up to 2 hours before you are ready to serve the dish and keep it covered with plastic wrap. I keep it at room temperature rather than refrigerate it.
When you are ready to serve, drizzle over the oil, vinegar and sprinkle the seasonings.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Use the freshest mozzarella you can for the best flavor and texture. I like to buy it the day I plan to serve it.
- Make sure your tomatoes are super ripe so that they are at their sweetest.
- Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into even thicknesses.
- This simple dish is all about the ingredients, so use the best you can!
More Easy Salad Recipes
- Mexican Grilled Corn Salad
- Tuna and Penne Pasta Salad
- Shrimp Mango and Avocado Salad
- Black Bean Chipotle Salad
Caprese Salad (Insalata Caprese)
Author:Ingredients
- 4 large tomatoes
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cut the tomatoes and mozzarella cheese into slightly thick slices. Place them on a platter, alternating.
- Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the tomatoes and mozzarella.
- Sprinkle with dried parsley, basil, salt and pepper. Serve as a side dish or appetizer.
Notes
- Use the freshest mozzarella you can for the best flavor and texture. I like to buy it the day I plan to serve it.
- Make sure your tomatoes are super ripe so that they are at there sweetest.
- Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into even thicknesses.
- This simple dish is all about the ingredients, so use the best you can!
Nutrition
The nutritional information of this recipe and all recipes on mydominicankitchen.com is only an estimate. The accuracy of any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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Johanna T says
We love this recipe. The best capresa salad
Silvia says
The cáptese salas is one of my all time favorites. So easy to assemble and the flavors are amazing!!
Myrah Duque says
Caprese Salad has always been a favorite in my household! We love tomatoes and mozarella and besides it is so easy to make and let’s not forget the amazing taste! Thanks for this easy recipe.
Brenda says
We love Caprese salad, so simple and delicious! I didn’t know its name origin, Thanks!
Yasmari Bello says
No tienes idea de lo que nos gusta en casa la ensalada capresa. We love caprese salad, thank you