Easy Caprese Salad Recipe
This simple appetizer celebrates summer's best flavors with juicy tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, and aromatic basil drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze.
Servings: 4
Calories: 419kcal
Ingredients
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes sliced ¼-inch thick
- 16 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese log sliced ¼-inch thick
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves separated from stems
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic glaze or balsamic reduction
- Salt and pepper for finishing (optional)
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese into even rounds, about ¼-inch thick. Try to make the slices of similar size for the most attractive presentation.
- Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices on a serving platter, alternating them in an overlapping pattern. You can create a circle, straight line, or fan them out—whatever arrangement you prefer.
- Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella slices. You can leave smaller leaves whole or tear larger ones into pieces.
- Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the arranged salad, followed by the balsamic glaze or reduction in a decorative pattern.
- Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste just before serving.
- For the best flavor, allow the salad to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for the best flavor. Take the mozzarella out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before assembling.
- Season just before serving to prevent the salt from drawing out moisture from the tomatoes and making the salad watery.
- Slice tomatoes and mozzarella to a similar thickness for a balanced bite and attractive presentation.
- Choose the ripest tomatoes you can find, preferably in-season, locally grown tomatoes for the most flavor.
- Pat the mozzarella dry with paper towels after slicing to prevent excess moisture on the plate.
- Don't skimp on the quality of olive oil and balsamic glaze – these finishing touches make a big difference in the final taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 717mg | Potassium: 384mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1897IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Vitamin D: 0.5µg | Calcium: 589mg | Iron: 1mg