A Twist On Traditional Caprese Salad
This recipe is a slight twist on your traditional Caprese salad. When you make traditional Caprese salad, you layer big slices of tomato, basil, and mozzarella together. Although I LOVE the traditional way, I also love this easy, “toss-it-all-together” variation. It is a fresh, gorgeous, vibrant salad that you will be craving all summer long!
What’s In Caprese Salad?
With this salad, you don’t want to take shortcuts. Use ALL fresh, high-quality ingredients, all the way down to the salt and pepper. After all, if you are going to make this salad, it is worth making right!
Tomatoes – For this recipe you can use cherry tomatoes, sun gold tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or any bite-sized tomato. You can also dice up your favorite garden tomato if you don’t have any cherry tomatoes.Mozzarella – We like using bite-sized marinated mozzarella balls (aka ciliegine) in this recipe because they are just so convenient. You can also use bocconcini or dice fresh mozzarella into small cubes.Fresh Basil – This is a MUST. Not only does it taste the best, hands-down, it is also part of what makes this dish so gorgeous!Salt and Pepper – We always use Kosher salt or sea salt. Additionally, if you really want to bring out those flavors, use a course variety. In addition to that, you will want to use a grinder for the pepper. You definitely want to have fresh, ground pepper for this recipe!
Where To Find Marinated Mozzarella Balls
You can find marinated mozzarella balls at most grocery stores. We found a LARGE tub of them at Costco for a great price. I usually also see them at Trader Joes. Typically, you can find them near the FRESH mozzarella near the deli in most stores.
How To Make Mozzarella Balls
If you can’t find marinated mozzarella balls at your local store, you can always marinate your own! You can use plain ciliegine or bocconcini, or additionally, you can cut up fresh mozzarella into cubes and marinate those. Here’s what to do:
Tips For Making This Recipe
Drain off some of the oil from the marinated mozzarella. Sometimes the mozzarella comes packed in a LOT of oil. So, it’s ok to drain some off to make it healthier. Use a variety of tomatoes. When they are in season, we like to use cherry tomatoes and sun gold tomatoes from our garden. However, if they aren’t in season, we like to use the big variety pack from Costco. Serve at room temperature. This one is a biggie. DO NOT REFRIGERATE before serving. You want this salad to be bursting with flavor and that can only happen at room temperature.
FAQ’s
More Caprese-Inspired Recipes
Tomato and Basil PastaMargherita Grilled Cheese SandwichPeach Caprese Salad SkewersCaprese Chicken Sliders
Kick it up a notch and add a little balsamic vinegar or reduction to your Caprese salad. We love using “Nonna Pia’s” Balsamic Glaze. It is a little sweet with a rich, bright, vinegar-y punch so, it pairs perfectly with this dish. Share It on Instagram!
