Make Classic Caprese Salad, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, And Tomatoes

• Food: Classic Caprese Salad

• Writer: Alice

• Content-Type: Food Blog

Make this Caprese salad dish before summer ends by gathering some fresh mozzarella, basil, and the best tomatoes you can find!

Over the years, I’ve shared a few recipes for Caprese salad. You can find recipes with strawberries, plums, a drizzle of mint pesto, and even adorable little Caprese skewers with peaches if you search through the recipe index.

The iconic Caprese salad with tender, creamy fresh mozzarella, juicy seasonally available tomatoes, and copious amounts of basil leaves, however, won’t be present.

You hardly need a recipe for this dish but stay reading for my advice on how to prepare the best Caprese salad ever, along with a few more interesting variants.

MAKING A CAPRESE SALAD

Great ingredients are the foundation of any Caprese salad. This recipe is best enjoyed in the summer when tomatoes are at their most flavorful, tastiest, and juiciest.

I enjoy visiting the farmer’s market to gather as many eye-catching heirloom tomatoes as I can. Each kind has a little different flavor in addition to being visually appealing, so it’s fun to present them all in this straightforward salad.

Search for a variety of colors, including greens, yellows, and reds. Cherry tomatoes are also acceptable in this situation.

You also require these five basic items in addition to tomatoes in peak season:

• fresh mozzarella cheese. Search for mozzarella balls that are pliable and packed in water. Cut them into thick pieces gently using a nice, sharp knife. Not crushed mozzarella is what you want!
• Basil. Nothing but new leaves here! Whole leaves can be scattered over the tomatoes and mozzarella in the salad, or larger leaves can be carefully torn before being added.
• olive oil that is extra virgin. This recipe truly benefits from using high-quality, 100% extra-virgin olive oil since you can taste the difference. I don’t suggest substituting another oil; extra-virgin olive oil’s potent, fruity flavor complements the juicy slices of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil perfectly.
• fresh black pepper, freshly ground. Now is the time to purchase a pepper grinder if you don’t already have one. For the finest flavor, simply sprinkle it over the salad.
• kosher salt I prefer to liberally season the salad with flaky sea salt, such as Maldon sea salt. Iodized sea salt is not necessary here; regular sea salt would do just fine. Its taste, which is a little bitter, can be noticeable in such a straightforward recipe.

Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves should be arranged on a dish. Add some olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then serve!

RECIPES FOR CAPRESE SALAD

You’ll find that I offer a few modifications to the recipe that follows. Although a classic Caprese made with good heirloom tomatoes is hard to top, occasionally it’s fun to switch things up. Here are a couple of my preferred methods for doing it:

• Use a combination of peaches and tomatoes, as I have done in this burrata recipe. You may also omit the fresh mozzarella from this dish and serve the tomatoes, basil, and a burrata ball instead.
• If you’re vegan, add avocado or omit the cheese altogether.
• Consider combining mint and fresh basil.
• To add even more tart taste, drizzle the entire dish with a balsamic glaze or reduction.
• Basil pesto should be generously used to finish the salad.
• For crunch, sprinkle toasted pine nuts on top of the salad.

How does your Caprese taste? Comment below and let me know!

CAPRESE SALAD

To make this mouthwatering summer salad, look for the best tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella you can find. A decent Caprese salad depends on quality components.

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. On a tray, arrange the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Olive oil should be drizzled over the dish before adding sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Add ingredients from the variants list if desired.