Italian Tomato Mozzarella Salad Recipe (Classic Caprese)

Nothing tastes fresher than homegrown tomatoes ripening on the vine and finding their way into dinner. I have some beautiful tomatoes ripening right now, and we are enjoying all the different ways they can be used — from burgers to salsa to eating them right off the vine, I’m in tomato heaven! It’s the perfect time to enjoy this Italian Tomato Mozzarella Salad for dinner.

And if you’ve never had a homegrown tomato before I’m telling you right now, it’s worth going to the farmers market before you make this recipe! We show you how to take juicy tomatoes and elevate them to a chef-worthy salad you’ll come back for time and time again.

Grab a slice of crusty bread and you’ve got a simple salad for a light lunch or a delicious side dish for dinner.

What is a Caprese Salad?

A classic Caprese salad recipe is an Italian Salad from the island of Capri. The list of ingredients is short and simple, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and sometimes a drizzle of balsamic glaze or Italian dressing. The colors of the ingredients, red, white, and green are said to represent the Italian flag. 

What Makes This Tomato and Mozzarella Salad Recipe Worthwhile?

Fast and easy to make, this easy salad has all the flavors of summer and farm-to-table cooking we crave. It’s got the brightness and acidity of the tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh herbs, and the smooth sweetness of homemade balsamic dressing. This classic Italian salad is healthy eating like so many Mediterranean recipes.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Tomato Mozzarella Salad

• Tomatoes. Grape tomatoes or sweet cherry tomatoes. You can use any variety of tomatoes that you wish. Larger tomatoes will need to be cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Cucumber. Cucumbers are one of our favorite additions. You can use any variety. We choose to peel them and remove the seeds for this tomato salad but it’s optional.
• Green Onion. These onions aren’t as hot as many varieties and they add color. Substitute red onions or Vidalia onions. If your onions are hot, soak them in cold water for 10 minutes or overnight. Be sure to drain them of excess water so your salad isn’t runny.
• Sweet Basil Leaves. Basil plants are easy to grow. Buy a little plant to keep on the windowsill! It’s super easy to keep alive until you’ve used it all.
• Fresh Parsley. Either flat leaf or curly parsley is fine.
• Oregano. Dried oregano leaves. Smell jarred spices. If they’ve lost their aroma, replace them.
• Fresh Mozzarella. I like buying a package of pearls or mozzarella balls so it doesn’t have to be cut up, but mozzarella slices look beautiful on a platter with sliced tomatoes.
• Salt and Pepper. Freshly cracked pepper and freshly ground coarse salt. It sets this dish apart.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Black Pepper. Freshly cracked or fresh ground pepper is best.
• Balsamic Vinegar. Adds a mild acidity and sweet flavor to the dressing without overwhelming.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. We prefer mild olive oil. Taste it before you use it. Some olive oil can be bitter and not recommended. 
• Sugar. Just a little is needed to offset the acid.
• Garlic Clove. Nothing compares to freshly minced garlic in homemade dressings. We don’t recommend jarred minced garlic.
• Dijon Mustard. This mustard has a soft mild flavor and acts as an emulsifier which helps thicken and combine the dressing ingredients when shaken.
• Salt. Kosher salt is what we keep on hand. If you use sea salt, you may need less than what’s called for.

How To Make Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Please note, that the printable recipe card has the full list of ingredients, quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

Do the chopping and slicing.

Slice and chop fresh ingredients into bite-sized pieces and add them to a large bowl. Add finely sliced green onions.

Finish off with herbs and seasoning.

Thinly slice sweet basil leaves (chiffonade is the fancy term) and finely chopped parsley. Add the fresh herbs, dried oregano, and some salt and pepper. Stir everything together and add the dressing. Add mozzarella before serving. Place the tomato cucumber mozzarella salad in a decorative bowl or platter and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

How to Make Homemade Balsamic Dressing

Some tomato basil mozzarella salads are made with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic reduction which, if you buy it, it’s expensive. Our simple balsamic dressing is easy and inexpensive to make. Once you have a jar of the dressing made and on hand, you can make a delicious salad whenever you like!

Combine all of the ingredients in a Mason jar or salad dressing curette with a lid and shake to combine, or in a small mixing bowl, whisk to combine. Store your leftover dressing in the refrigerator.

Hostess Tips

I add fresh mozzarella pearls to the salad right before serving. If you add them too soon, they can get mushy. You can slice or cube fresh mozzarella yourself if you don’t have the pearls.

This homemade dressing is something we make and keep on hand. In a rush, you can just drizzle on a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or a good Italian dressing. I keep the homemade balsamic vinaigrette in the refrigerator and it’s my go-to salad dressing. Use commercial Italian salad dressing for convenience.

Add ripe avocado or marinated artichoke hearts.

When you have some homemade dressing in the refrigerator, you can make a delicious salad whenever you like!

How to Serve Tomato Mozzarella Salad

This gorgeous salad can be served straight up, or you can chop everything a little finer and serve it over crusty French bread or homemade Italian bread for bruschetta. It’s amazing either way! Serve it by itself or alongside grilled meat or a rich basil pesto or alfredo pasta dish. It’s the perfect contrast for so many different meals like this spaghetti pie, for instance.

FAQ’s

What tomato is best for caprese?

The best tomatoes are what you like as long as they’re fresh. Grape and cherry tomatoes are sweet and convenient because they don’t need to be cut up. You can also use slices of tomatoes in this recipe. Colorful heirloom tomatoes are delicious.

Can this Tomato Mozzarella Salad be made ahead of time?

Yes and no. You can chop and slice the ingredients a couple of hours ahead of time but don’t combine them. Assemble the salad and add the dressing right before serving.

How To Store Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Best way to store

We recommend that this salad be served fresh. It just isn’t as bright and crisp when leftover or stored for a period of time in the refrigerator. The good news is that as long as you have the ingredients, it’s so quick and easy to make that you can enjoy this fresh summer salad in no time.

Our delicious tomato mozzarella salad is a great way to enjoy ripe tomatoes,  Balsamic Tomato Chutney is another one of our go-to recipes when we have fresh tomatoes ready. Another easy way is to make Homemade Flatbread Pizza or our Chicken Gyro recipe. It’s packed with fresh produce. 

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

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Originally released on August 14, 2014, this tomato basil mozzarella salad recipe has undergone updates to enhance our readers’ experience, including simple details and new images. No changes were made to the actual recipe.