There could not be a more perfect summer salad than this Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes. Celebrate the warm weather with this fresh & vibrant salad, that is so quick and easy to throw together. It is great for entertaining or for a weeknight meal at home on the side of some grilled chicken. A Caprese salad is one of my favourite things to order at an Italian restaurant, and now you can make it at home with this delicious Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes recipe.
What is a Caprese salad?
A Caprese salad is a very simple Italian salad, that is absolutely delicious and perfect for summertime! The basic ingredients are fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil and some seasonings.
We love to serve it in summer with some grilled steak, fish or chicken for a fresh and tasty meal. It is also a bit of a show-stopping side dish, which makes it perfect for entertaining. There is no cooking required to make this Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes, you are just preparing some ingredients and putting it all together.
What ingredients do you need to make Caprese salad?
There are minimal ingredients in a traditional Caprese salad and you may even have most of the ingredients in your pantry or garden. We purchased fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes from the supermarket, cut some fresh basil leaves from the garden and had the rest of the ingredients in our pantry.
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes;
- fresh mozzarella cheese
- cherry or grape tomatoes
- fresh basil leaves
- extra virgin olive oil
- balsamic glaze
- dried oregano
- sea salt
- cracked black pepper
What to serve with Caprese salad
Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes is a fresh and light salad that is perfect for summer meals. We love to serve it with steak, fish, seafood or chicken grilled or cooked on the BBQ. It would also make for an easy dinner with a rotisserie chicken or served on some sourdough toast like a bruschetta.
Steps for making Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes
Tips & Suggestions
- You need to use fresh mozzarella in this recipe. It is a soft, white ball and it is usually stored in water in tubs or bags at the supermarket.
- Make sure you drain the mozzarella well to make sure there is no excess liquid on your plate.
- I prefer to have the tomatoes at room temperature before making this salad, so they have the most flavour.
- You can use large tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes if that is what you have available, try to look for the fresh and ripe vine, heirloom, or homegrown tomatoes as they will have the best flavour.
Make it Low Carb
- This recipe is naturally low carb.
Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes
If you are looking for summer on a plate, then this Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes is for you! It is perfect as a side dish with your favourite grilled steak, seafood or chicken, but can also be served by itself for a light lunch. We love to serve it on toasted sourdough for a different take on bruschetta. It is simple (NO COOKING!), fresh and tasty, which is everything you can ask for in a salad. Give this Caprese salad with cherry tomato recipe a try today.
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Ingredients
- 200 g fresh mozzarella cheese (approx. 2 large balls)
- 500 g cherry or grape tomatoes (1 lb)
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp balsamic glaze
- ½ tsp sea salt (+ extra for garnish)
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Take the mozzarella out of the water it is stored in and set aside on a paper towel to drain while you prepare the tomatoes.
- Cut the tomatoes in half and place into a bowl.
- Add to the tomatoes, the oil, glaze, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Slice the mozzarella into round slices, you should get about 6 slices per ball.
- On a round plate arrange the mozzarella slices in a circle in the middle of the plate.
- Evenly distribute the tomatoes around the edge of the mozzarella on the plate.
- Lightly tear any of the large basil leaves, then sprinkle them over the top of the tomatoes. I like to do this at the end so they stay vibrant and green.
- Sprinkle on some extra sea salt over the top of the salad and it is ready to serve.
Notes
Tips & Suggestions
-
- You need to use fresh mozzarella in this recipe. It is a soft, white ball and it is usually stored in water in tubs or bags at the supermarket.
-
- Make sure you drain the mozzarella well to make sure there is no excess liquid on your plate.
-
- I prefer to have the tomatoes at room temperature before making this salad, so they have the most flavour.
-
- You can use large tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes if that is what you have available, try to look for fresh and ripe vine, heirloom or homegrown tomatoes as they will have the best flavour.
Absolutely my favourite salad, winter summer or anytime. Balsamic is a must to top it off.