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    Side Dishes » Caprese Salad

    Caprese Salad

    Posted On September 21, 2022 By Mirlene Last updated September 21, 2022 14 Comments

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    Easy Caprese Salad Pinterest Pin

    Crowd-pleasing caprese salad that serves well and elegantly as a refreshing side dish. With minimal assembly required, this delicious salad appetizer is ready in minutes. 

    Delicious Caprese Salad Recipe on blue plate with wooden fork

    Italy is home to a lot of delicious dishes. We enjoyed dishes like pizza and pasta, all thanks to Italian cuisine. 

    Another outstanding dish that originated from the European country is the Caprese Salad. This refreshing salad is perfect for any occasion or holiday. 

    Caprese Salad 

    Caprese Salad is one of the numerous types of salad that originated in Italy. The dish is made from sweet basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella. 

    caprese salad with balsamic glaze vinegar

    The dish is also seasoned with salt and olive oil. The dish is such a big deal, especially in Italy or among Italians, because the dish features the colors on the Italian flag, Red, White, and Green.

    Despite being a salad, Caprese Salad is served as a starter in most restaurants and not as a side dish. 

    If you are making the dish at home, it can be eaten anytime and works for many occasions.

    There are numerous origin stories regarding the Caprese Salad. However, regardless of the story and how it is told, it is agreed that the dish originated from the Island of Capri in ancient Italy. 

    Unsurprisingly, a dish as glamorous and remarkable as the Caprese Salad originated from the island.

    The island of Capri itself is known for glamour and has held an attractive pull to the high and mighty for many centuries. 

    The island was the relaxation center for the illustrious Roman Emperor, Emperor Augustus, in 1 A.D. His successor, Emperor Tiberius, made the island his home and ruled from there.

    Down the line, the island also played host to critically acclaimed writers such as George Bernard Shaw, Graham Greene, and D.H. Lawrence, as well as scree n divas like Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor. 

    Some records suggest that Tiberius came up with the recipe for the Caprese Salad towards the end of the first century A.D. 

    Other records argued that Constantino Moffa started the recipe for the dish. However, this is unlikely because Constantino Moffa worked in a Swiss hotel as the Maitre d’ when he was said to start the recipe. Moffa was also an indigene of Capri Island. 

    Caprese Salad Recipe in white platter

    Finally, the origin story that sounded more likely stated that a mason who wanted to make a dish to tribute to Italy after the First World War came up with the recipe.

    This is why the dish embodied the tricolor representation of the country’s flag. 

    The first mention of the dish in a printed medium was in the menu of Hotel Quisisana.

    The dish’s popularity was due to the activities of King Farouq of Egypt, whose chef offered the Caprese Salad as an afternoon snack. 

    Since then, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world.

    What are the ingredients for Caprese Salad

    The full recipe with the exact measurement is listed below in the recipe card. For now, here’s a quick guide of the ingredients that are used to make this salad.

    Mozzarella – This cheese is the most important ingredient for making this dish; as a result, it should be of high quality. 

    The best type of mozzarella for this dish is the cow milk mozzarella, also known as Fior di latte. You can also use buffalo mozzarella. 

    The most important thing is ensuring that the mozzarella you use is fresh. 

    Caprese Salad on Blue Plate

    Tomatoes – Tomatoes are also essential ingredients for making the Caprese Salad. The ideal tomatoes to use for this dish are the Umberto tomatoes. It is also known as beefsteak tomatoes or fiascona tomatoes. 

    You should ensure that these tomatoes are ripe and sliced in equal sizes with the mozzarella. 

    You can also opt for cherry tomatoes or Pachino tomatoes; however, it is better to dice this type of tomatoes as they are smaller in size.

    Salt & Pepper – This is the primary seasoning ingredient for the dish. Sea salt flakes also work perfectly for the dish. However, the tomatoes should be salted and not the mozzarella. 

    Basil – As much as basil looks like a decorative ingredient for this dish, it is not. It is actually a vital ingredient, and the quality of this ingredient cannot be compromised. 

    The ideal basil leaf is the Neapolitan type due to its large leaf size. The best time to add basil leaf to the dish is just before serving, as basil tends to blacken and wither fast. 

    In this recipe we also included purple basil, which is used primary for color purposes and is completely optional. 

    Olive Oil – This is another crucial ingredient you cannot afford to compromise its quality. The olive oil can literally make or break the dish, so you must ensure that the one you get is high-quality. 

    Tomato with cheese and basil salad

    The best variety of olive oil for the Caprese Salad is extra-virgin olive oil.

    Balsamic Vinegar – For the vinegar, feel free to use your choice of balsamic vinegar. We used the balsamic glazed vinegar and dilute it slightly with ¼ cup water.

    Variations and Optional Ingredients

    When making this recipe, feel free to make yours. Below are a few options to keep in mind when making this dish. 

    • Fruity flavored olive oil also works for the dish.  
    • Pepper is an optional ingredient for Caprese Salad. While it adds extra spice to the dish, the dish remains perfect even without it.
    • Red pepper flakes – pepper flakes work well with cheese. It adds a hint of heat to the salad. 
    • Lemon zest or balsamic vinegar reduction are also allowed for the dish, although they remain optional.      
    • Oregano could be a substitute for basil leaves. Some people use the herbs alongside basil leaves in the dish. 
    • Cilantro – completely optional, but also add in freshness to the dish. 
    Delicious Caprese Salad Recipe

    Chef’s Tip

    • This dish does not use mayonnaise, olives, vinegar, or eggs.
    • Please do not use too much salt as it could strip the flavors of the tomatoes and mozzarella, which is the main essence of the dish. The same rule goes for the olive oil used for the dish. Use just enough to improve the flavor of the ingredients. 
    • Don’t refrigerate your tomatoes! Keep them at room temperature for best taste. Avoid too much water as it can affect the consistency of the Caprese Salad. 
    • You should also watch the temperature when making the salad. It is the primary reason why most Caprese salads go wrong. 

    Storage and Reheating Suggestions

    Storing the Caprese Salad is a bit dicey as its ingredients are in their best state at room temperature.

    By refrigerating the tomatoes, they turn mushy, which doesn’t bode well for the consistency of the Caprese salad. 

    Thus, it is advisable to make only the amount of Caprese Salad you can finish and store at room temperature.  

    More Delicious Cheese Recipes

    Stovetop Mac and Cheese

    Smoked Mac and Cheese

    Air Fryer Cheese Cake

    Oreo Cream Cheese balls

    Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli 

    Instant pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    Haitian Mac and Cheese

     It warms our hearts to see the recipes you make from this site, and we’d especially would love to know if you tried this recipe. 

    Tag us on Instagram or Facebook so we can see your beautiful dish.

    Also, we would appreciate if could give it a star rating below

    Caprese Salad on Blue Plate

    How To Make A Caprese Salad

    Easy and elegantly served caprese salad that's perfect for any occasion. This refreshing side dish is prepared in minutes with minimal assembly.
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Author: Savory Thoughts

    Equipment

    • Large Platter

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium vine tomatoes sliced ½ inch thick
    • 8 oz mozzarella cheese sliced ½ inch thick
    • bunch basil We used green and purple basil (purple basil is optional)
    • 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 Tbsp. balsamic glaze
    • 2 Tbsp. water
    • ½ tsp. Kosher salt or to taste
    • ½ tsp. ground black pepper or to taste

    Instructions

    • Slice the tomatoes and cheese.
      Place the tomatoes and mozzarella on a plater. Align both ingredients alternatively.
      Drizzle the olive oil over the tomatoes and cheese.
      Add the basil leaves in between the cheese and tomatoes.
      sliced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
      In a small cup combine the vinegar and water.
      Drizzle the vinegar mixture over the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
      Serve immediately.
      Caprese Salad on white plate

    Video

    Notes

    **** When printing the recipe, please unselect the camera so that the pictures are NOT printed with the recipe (if preferred).
     
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    « Watercress Salad
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nikki

      September 29, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      Fresh and fabulous! Makes an amazing appetizer or side dish.

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 07, 2022 at 9:15 pm

        Thank you, Nikki!

        Reply
    2. Diana Reis

      September 29, 2022 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      A classic and one of my favorites. Great reminder to make it this week before the summer tomatoes are all gone.

      Reply
    3. Dana

      September 29, 2022 at 5:41 pm

      5 stars
      Nothing beats a simple caprese! Perfect side for pizza night. It’s our go-to!

      Reply
    4. kushigalu

      September 29, 2022 at 5:33 pm

      5 stars
      Refreshing and delicious. salad recipe. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    5. Cara

      September 29, 2022 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, simple, fresh, delicious. Loved it!

      Reply
    6. Candy

      September 25, 2022 at 6:36 am

      my all time favorite

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        September 27, 2022 at 8:08 pm

        Thank you, Candy!

        Reply
    7. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      September 22, 2022 at 8:26 am

      5 stars
      This caprese salad is so simple but so delicious too. Can’t beat the combination of cheese and tomato!

      Reply
    8. Ieva

      September 22, 2022 at 7:27 am

      5 stars
      You simply cannot beat this classic! Thanks for the tomato suggestions – beefsteak tomatoes are definitely the best ones for this salad!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        September 27, 2022 at 8:18 pm

        Thank you, Leva

        Reply
    9. Tara

      September 22, 2022 at 7:13 am

      5 stars
      Made this as an appetizer when I had friends over recently. Everyone was so impressed! Very tasty and so easy. Thanks!

      Reply
    10. Lubna

      September 22, 2022 at 7:12 am

      5 stars
      Easy and flavoursome salad recipe. Looks extremely yum!

      Reply
    11. MacKenzie

      September 22, 2022 at 3:36 am

      5 stars
      This Caprese salad was delicious. The vine ripe tomatoes have so much flavor and the colors are beautiful

      Reply

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