5.0 from 15 votes
Caprese Salad
This is my favorite Caprese salad, where the ingredients speak for themselves with little embellishment necessary. It all starts with fresh ingredients: ripe, flavorful summer tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil, and your best olive oil. The rest is simple.
Prep Time
20 mins
Resting Time
5 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 6 people, as a side
Calories: 904 kcal
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 2 (8 ounce ) balls whole milk mozzarella in brine
- 2 pounds ripe salad or heirloom tomatoes (such as Beefsteak, Big Boy, or Purple Cherokee)
- fine sea salt
- 1 Handful basil leaves (smaller, more tender stems preferred)
- 3 tablespoons best-quality extra-virgin olive oil
- freshly ground black pepper
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Drain the mozzarella: Remove the balls of mozzarella from the brine and let it drain on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels for 15 minutes. Lightly pat the mozzarella and slice it into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
- Slice the tomatoes: Using a serrated knife, slice the stem end off the tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes into slices about 3/8-inch thick, slightly thicker than the mozzarella. You’ll need 12 slices, not including the ends (discard the ends or eat them as a snack!). Lay the slices out on the cutting board and sprinkle with fine sea salt.
- Layer the salad: Arrange the tomatoes and mozzarella on a serving plate so that they are overlapping slightly. Tuck in the basil leaves between the slices, and sprinkle or arrange a few more on top.
- Season: Drizzle the olive oil over the salad and grind a little black pepper on top. Let the salad rest briefly—no more than 5 to 10 minutes. Right before serving, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top (optional). Serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Try to buy tomatoes that are about the same size as the mozzarella balls. This will make the salad more visually appealing.
- If you have time, allow the mozzarella to sit at room temperature for one hour before serving. The delicate mozzarella’s flavor shines brighter at room temperature.
- Caprese salad is not a make-ahead salad. If you assemble it ahead of time and refrigerate it, you’ll compromise the texture of the cheese and tomatoes, and you’ll end up with a giant puddle of tomato juice and mozzarella milk at the bottom of your serving plate.
- After assembling, let it rest just a few minutes before serving.
- Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils, honey, jams and spices.
Nutrition Information
Calories
90.4kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
5.9g
(2%)
Protein
1.4g
(3%)
Fat
7.4g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
1.1g
(6%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.9g
Monounsaturated Fat
5.2g
Cholesterol
0.3mg
(0%)
Sodium
9.8mg
(0%)
Potassium
362.6mg
(10%)
Fiber
1.8g
(7%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
1332.1IU
(27%)
Vitamin C
21mg
(23%)
Calcium
19.2mg
(2%)
Iron
0.5mg
(3%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6people, as a side
Amount Per Serving
Calories 904
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 90.4kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 5.9g | 2% |
| Protein | 1.4g | 3% |
| Fat | 7.4g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.1g | 6% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.9g | 5% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5.2g | 26% |
| Cholesterol | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 9.8mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 362.6mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1.8g | 7% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 1332.1IU | 27% |
| Vitamin C | 21mg | 23% |
| Calcium | 19.2mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.5mg | 3% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.