This authentic Caprese Salad will transport you to summertime in Italy! Made with 3 simple ingredients, it's fresh, delicious and great to serve as an appetizer, side dish or even a light meal with crusty crostini bread.
Caprese Salad originating from the island Capri, is one of the most popular salads in Italy, especially in the summer when the weather is crazy hot and beautiful tomatoes are at their peak! After spending the last few summers in Italy, I can't even count the times I've eaten it. You only need 3 main ingredients to make it….ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese and basil leaves - let the colors of the Italian flag shine through! It's so simple yet so delicious and always hits the spot.
On summer days when it's too hot to cook, I love enjoying a light fresh caprese for lunch. Enjoy it as is, add it inside fresh focaccia bread, a soft panino at the beach or on top of crunchy crostini, what more can you want right??
An authentic Caprese salad is all about arranging the ingredients beautifully on a plate and doesn't need much when it comes to the dressing - only good quality extra virgin olive oil, salt and sometimes a small pinch of oregano. It’s actually not common or traditional to see balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze drizzled on top, but you can of course add some if you like.
Table of Contents
Recipe Highlights
- Quick & Easy: This recipe comes together quickly without any cooking
- Summer Fresh: Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh basil leaves makes every bite a delight
- Versatile: Enjoy as a side dish, light meal, appetizer or alongside your favorite main dishes
What is a Caprese Salad?
Caprese Salad is a traditional dish from the Italian island of Capri, which is within the Campania region of southern Italy. It’s made with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, extra virgin olive oil and salt.
The ingredients are simply layered together, creating a fresh and colorful dish that celebrates the beautiful fresh flavors and is popularly served as an appetizer or even a light lunch in summer. It's absolutely delicious and everyone's favorite summer salad.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Tomatoes, use round ripe tomatoes that are beautifully red and juicy for the best flavor. Cherry tomatoes also can be used, especially for caprese skewers similar to my antipasto skewers, or even a caprese pasta salad
- Fresh mozzarella cheese gives the salad its creamy texture. Make sure to use mozzarella balls that are in water. Bocconcini are a convenient substitute and are especially easy to use with cherry tomatoes
- Basil leaves provide the classic Caprese flavor, color and freshness. If you don't have fresh basil, a small amount of basil pesto can be used but its not traditional
- Extra virgin olive oil is the beautiful dressing and brings all the flavors together. Choose a good quality oil for the best flavor and don't be shy on it
- Oregano, only a small sprinkle needed for an earthy note. You can leave it out or substitute it with dried Italian herbs
How to make Caprese Salad
You can make this classic Caprese salad in minutes - it really doesn't get much easier or more delicious than this! Follow my simple steps below:
Step 1: Slice mozzarella into thick circles and place on paper towels for 5–10 minutes to drain excess water
Step 2: Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes into thick circles
Step 3: Sprinkle the tomatoes with salt and a light touch of oregano. Drizzle with 1–2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and let them marinate for 5 minutes
Step 4: To serve, arrange the mozzarella and tomato slices on a platter, slightly overlapping each piece (don’t add in the tomato juices). Then add the basil leaves on top and drizzle over some olive oil and it’s ready. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Use seasonal ripe tomatoes that are round in shape. The more nice and red and ripe they are, the more juicy and more flavor they will have
- Slice mozzarella and allow the excess water to drain out on paper towels for 5-10 minutes. This will ensure you don't end up with watery mozzarella and will also allow it to come to room temperature so it has a soft milky texture
- Slice tomatoes and cheese into similar thicknesses, that way you can assemble it beautifully on a platter for the perfect bite
- I like to marinate the tomatoes for 5 minutes for extra flavor. The excess water will also come out of the tomatoes so they don't leave a watery pool on the platter. Don't add the juices when plating up, scoop some fresh bread in there and have a little snack 🙂
- Balsamic reduction, glaze or vinegar are not in a traditional Caprese salad. If you love it and wish to use it, don't add too much so it doesn't overpower the fresh ingredients
Storage Instructions
- A caprese salad is always best enjoyed fresh. You can however store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy it within 1 day for the best flavor and texture
- Don't add the dressing leftover on the plate as it will make it all too watery. Just add fresh olive oil when ready to eat the rest
Serving Suggestions
This Caprese salad pairs nicely with crusty bread, focaccia or crostini. For a full meal, serve it beside spaghetti al pomodoro or spaghetti aglio e olio, or turn the flavors into a caprese pasta salad or caprese sandwich.
FAQs
Traditionally, Caprese salad doesn’t include balsamic vinegar, especially in Italy, it's never used. But a light drizzle of balsamic glaze or reduction adds a delicious sweet tangy flavor, so feel free to use it if you like!
Ripe, juicy tomatoes are best for Caprese salad. Choose fresh tomatoes that are firm but flavorful, such as heirloom, Roma or vine ripened tomatoes. Round in shape is also best for the signature look
Don't use underripe tomatoes or low moisture mozzarella. As there's minimal ingredients you want the best for this recipe. Also don't add too much balsamic glaze if using, as it can overpower the fresh ingredients. This salad also tastes best when served fresh
More Caprese Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
More Italian Salads
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Caprese Salad (Authentic Italian)
Video
Ingredients
- 7oz / 200g fresh mozzarella - approx 2 balls
- 2 medium ripe tomatoes - preferably round in shape
- Handful fresh basil leaves
- 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Small pinch of oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice the mozzarella cheese into thick circles and place them on paper towels to drain the excess water - leave for 5-10 minutes
- In the meantime also slice the tomatoes into thick circles
- Add them to a plate with a good sprinkle of salt and a very light sprinkle of oregano. Drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and let them marinate briefly for 5 minutes
- When ready to serve, assemble the mozzarella and slices of tomatoes on a platter carefully overlapping each piece - don't add the tomato juices left on the plate. Then arrange the basil leaves over the top. Drizzle the top with another 2 tablespoons of olive oil and enjoy your beautiful fresh Caprese salad!
Notes
- Tomatoes - choose tomatoes that are round and juicy as they will be full of flavor. Ensure to cut them evenly so the tomato and mozzarella slices are similar in thickness and easier to layer. Marinate the tomatoes for 5 minutes for extra flavor and leave the juices behind when plating, but save them for dipping fresh bread!
- Mozzarella - drain once sliced on paper towels for 5–10 minutes to remove excess water, don't skip this step or the salad will be watery
- Balsamic - totally optional, as it isn’t traditionally used and can easily overpower the fresh flavors, so if using go very light
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