This no-fuss Italian caprese salad is filled with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella pearls. The mix of fresh ingredients makes a great appetizer or side dish.
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There's not much better than fresh, in-season summer tomatoes! When your garden is bursting with tomatoes, Italian caprese salad is the perfect dish to make.
After attending culinary school in Italy, I learned the importance of keeping food simple and allowing the ingredients to shine. And that's exactly what we're doing with this cherry tomato caprese salad.
It's fresh, easy to make, and most importantly, super flavorful!
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What You'll Learn In This Recipe
- Tips for a beautiful presentation.
- Important ingredients that add great flavor to caprese salad.
Want more delicious Italian inspired recipes? Check out my free eBook with 10 recipes you'll love.
Ingredients You Need
- Cherry tomatoes: Fresh, in-season tomatoes are always best! You can also use larger tomatoes and cut them into smaller pieces.
- Mozzarella pearls: Feel free to cut a large ball of mozzarella into bite-sized pieces instead of using pearls.
- Fresh basil: You'll want to chiffonade the basil, which means to thinly slice. To chiffonade, stack the leaves, then tightly roll them. Using a sharp chef's knife, thinly slice.
- Morton kosher salt and black pepper: Don't forget the seasonings!
- Extra virgin olive oil: Be sure to use a high-quality bottle of extra virgin olive oil to enhance the flavor of the salad.
How To Make This Recipe
There's not much to making a delicious (and simple) Italian caprese salad.
1. Add the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, fresh basil, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl.
2. Then, drizzle with olive oil and stir until combined. You can serve the caprese directly in the mixing bowl or place it in a serving bowl or platter.
Expert Tips
- For a beautiful presentation, use cherry tomatoes with a variety of colors.
- You can quarter the cherry tomatoes instead of slicing them in half if they're large.
- Don't skimp on the salt and pepper! Vegetables need seasoning to have great flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Leftover caprese salad will last about 3 - 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The basil will wilt the longer it sits.
Sure! While Italians normally keep their food super simple to highlight the flavors of the produce, you can dress up this caprese salad with some oregano, a dash of balsamic vinegar, or top it with balsamic glaze.
More Salad Recipes
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Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes sliced in half (about 3 cups)
- 8 ounces mozzarella pearls
- ½ cup fresh basil chiffonade
- Morton kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Add cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, fresh basil, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and stir until combined.
- Serve directly in the mixing bowl or place in a serving bowl or platter.
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