Caprese Salad
Home / Recipes / Salads / Caprese Salad
Caprese Salad
Caprese salad is summer on a plate, made with just ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Layer the slices, season simply, and finish with good olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. With only five ingredients, quality matters more than technique, so reach for the best tomatoes and mozzarella you can find.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- Flaky salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
- Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices in an overlapping row on a platter.
- Tuck the basil leaves between the slices.
- Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the top.
- Drizzle the balsamic glaze across the platter.
- Finish with flaky salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Serve right away at room temperature.
Tips and variations
- Serve at room temperature so the tomatoes and mozzarella give up their full flavor.
- Slice everything to a similar thickness so each bite stacks neatly.
- Make your own balsamic glaze by simmering 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar until it coats a spoon.
- Use the ripest in-season tomatoes, since they carry most of the flavor in this simple dish.
Save it to your Recipe Box
Copy this one onto a 4x6 card. Title across the top, the 6 ingredients down the left, the 6 steps down the right, and Serves 4, Prep 10, Cook 0 along the header. File it behind the Salads divider. Built to outlast the screenshot.
Get the Recipe Box
Common questions
- What kind of mozzarella is best
- Fresh mozzarella packed in water, sometimes labeled fior di latte, gives the soft, milky texture this salad needs. Skip the firm low-moisture kind.
- Can I make it ahead
- Slice the ingredients ahead, but assemble and dress just before serving so the tomatoes do not weep and the basil stays bright.
- What is balsamic glaze
- It is balsamic vinegar reduced until thick and syrupy. You can buy it or simmer regular balsamic vinegar down at home.
- How do I keep basil from darkening
- Add the basil leaves at the last minute and avoid bruising them. Torn or whole leaves hold their color longer than chopped.
More salad recipes
Keep the ones that work
When a recipe earns a repeat, it deserves a card. The Albino Monkey Recipe Box keeps your handwritten favorites on real wooden dividers, Salads through Favorites.
See the Recipe Box