Easy Cherry Tomato And Mozzarella Salad
A flavorful and delicious Tomato and Mozzarella Salad, drizzled with Blood Orange Infused Olive Oil and seasoned with basil, parsley, salt, and pepper is perfect for dinner or lunch.
A Tomato Salad adds colors to any dinner table. Whether you are cooking for your family or entertaining guests, a salad is usually the focus, the centerpiece on a dinner table. It is also a salad with vibrant colors that accentuated the other dishes.
It almost feels like I am calling Summer. Spring is here, and I am not complaining. But mother nature has not quite gotten my memo about beautiful sunny days yet. I cannot wait for beautiful days where I can eat dinner outdoors while enjoying the fresh air.
Fresh Basil In Caprese
The finishing touch to top off any Caprese Salad is fresh torn basil. Peppery and unique, I love fresh basil for the warm spice it gives my taste buds. Plus, I dont think the dish is the same thing at all without that tang.
- Oregano minty with a hay-type flavor and lemony thyme are great basil alternatives to try. The fresh cherry tomatoes and mozzarella salad could also tolerate more robust flavors like tarragon, dill, or green onion.
Cherry Tomato And Mozzarella Salad
Did you know that May is National Salad Month? Have you tried the recipe, Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Salad?
Knowing this fact doesnt make me want to break out the balloons and cheer to the tossed veggies. If anything, the coming of Spring entices me to make them! Theres something about the warmer weather, outdoor BBQs and the appearance of fresh veggies and fruits at market it all makes me crave salads.
Being a fan of the usuals, like Caesar Salad, I also like to try different salads to add variety to a meal but also to the nutrient repertoire. One such salad that I enjoy making, is Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Salad.
I tried a variation of it for the first time years ago, while staying at a Mexican Resort. It could have been the surroundings that softened my heart and palate but since its been a favourite salad of mine.
Heres my recipe for Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Salad, really easy and very tasty. Plus, it really does go with everything from fish to burgers to chicken. Its pretty versatile too, I also make them into salad kabobs which would be great for appetizers this Summer.
Like a great pair of comfy jeans, this salad is both comforting, filling and will suit any occasion for years to come.
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Favorite Summer Side Dish
This is one of my favorite dishes to bring to a BBQ. Its so fresh and flavorful and incredibly simple to whip up. Some of my other top picks are pasta salad, Greek salad and cucumber tomato salad.
A fresh caprese salad is the ultimate summer side dish! You just cant go wrong with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil topped with balsamic. The fresh summer flavors shine through and taste absolutely delicious.
A traditional caprese salad is made with slices of tomatoes, sliced mozzarella and larger pieces of basil on top. While I love the original version, I find it much easier to eat this way and perfect for a crowd.
Some Information About The Benefits Of Tomatoes
Salads, in general, help us consume some of the vitamins we may need. An intensely nutritious plant, Tomatoes are full of the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. Tomatoes are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.
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Summer Cherry Tomato Salad
What can you do with lots of cherry tomatoes? Make this cherry tomato salad of course!
I absolutely ADORE this salad.
It’s so simple to make and it’s a super fun take on my all time favorite salad: the Caprese salad!
Just like the classic recipe, this cherry tomato version of a Caprese salad uses lots of cherry tomatoes and is complemented by soft, rich, chunks of mozzarella cheese and fresh, aromatic basil.
The whole salad is then tossed in a simple balsamic vinegar dressing for an extra sweet and tangy finish. It’s such a simple dish with a ton of flavor!
It’s the perfect dish to compliment your summer and use up some garden veggies!
Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
Published: by Alexandra
For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the “jump to recipe” button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.
Bursting with flavour, my Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad will delight your taste buds!
Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad is a delicious variation on a previous recipe. The recipe in question demonstrates the versatility of Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.
With minimal changes to the basic recipe, you will have another way in which to enjoy these tomatoes. This time, as a delicious salad.
I generally serve this dish as an appetiser. It does, however, also make an excellent side dish or even a light, meat-free meal when served with crusty bread.
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Dressing For Caprese Salad
The Dressing that everybody thinks of as Caprese Salad Dressing is a balsamic glaze, also known as balsamic reduction. It has an intense sweet-tangy flavour so you do not need very much of it just a drizzle otherwise it will overwhelm the salad.
So we need second Dressing for Caprese Salad to provide more flavour that we can toss through the whole salad before drizzling with the balsamic glaze. Many recipes just use plain olive oil, but I prefer to use a simple garlic-herb vinaigrette because it has more flavour, I like the look of the little specks and also, its healthier .
While balsamic reduction is quite simple to make , Ive used store bought here. Its not that expensive, and it has a shelf life of years and years!
Helpful Tools And Ingredients:
- Tomato knife – so much easier to slice tomatoes for the cherry tomato salad with this serrated tomato knife!
- Silver tomato server – do you have one of these? I love my tomato server and use it for any kind of tomato dish, not just sliced tomatoes.
- Glass mixing bowls – I use these mixing bowls for so many things! They are perfect for mixing salads that you then want to serve on a platter.
- Salad dressing shaker – I typically use a regular jar for mixing any type of dressing, but if you prefer something more formal, this shaker with citrus squeezer would be ideal.
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Caprese Salad Cherry Tomatoes
“This is one of my favorite salads. It reminds me of our trip to Italy – in which we ate A LOT of it. It’s just so fresh and delicious – I can’t get enough of it. I came up with this idea when my garden started producing a ton of cherry tomatoes one year.” -Kori
Got cherry tomatoes? Be sure to make this delicious Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup or this Tomato and Mozzarella Caprese Frittata. If you love Caprese salads be sure to make this Grilled Eggplant Caprese Salad!
Mozzarella Salad With Balsamic Tomatoes
This bruschetta-inspired fresh mozzarella salad with balsamic tomatoes and basil is gorgeous and delicious and can be made as a single-serve meal for lunch or as a large platter for a festive table, BBQ or picnic. Gluten-free, low-carb, and vegetarian.
This mozzarella salad is a cross between a tomato basil bruschetta and a classic Italian Caprese salad. Mild, creamy fresh mozzarella is topped with bold and beautiful balsamic tomatoes with basil, finely diced onions and a touch of garlic.
I sometimes make it as a salad for one when I feel like something light but flavoursome for lunch. The recipe below is for two servings and you can simply multiply the ingredients to make a large platter for a dinner party or to serve as a side dish with extra protein or pasta, whatever your heart desires.
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Tips For Success And Faqs
Avoid refrigerating the cherry tomatoes because room temperature enhances the flavor. Source really good ones from the growers markets or a good supermarket.
Good ingredients make all the difference. Use decent extra virgin olive oil that you like the taste of and be sure that the dried oregano is fragrant and not stale.
Fresh mozzarella is mild and milky in flavor and usually not salted. Two key factors to success are firstly be sure to taste and salt as needed. Secondly, mozzarella tastes better at room temperature so for this Italian tomato salad take it out while preparing the tomatoes.
Dont skip salting the tomatoes. This is really the key to this recipe. After salting and resting the tomatoes, taste and add salt according to your preference.
How do you cut tomatoes for caprese?
Cherry tomatoes dont need much cutting because theyre small already. I usually just halve or quarter if large.
Is caprese salad healthy?
Absolutely! Tomatoes are full of vitamin C, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals as is basil. Plus mozzarella has a good dose of calcium.
Does a Caprese Salad have the best flavor if you eat it just after assembling the tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and olive oil Or should you let it sit for a while to let the flavors meld?
This salad is best eaten just after assembling and doesnt need to sit for any length of time. After all, the tomatoes have already been salted and have sat for 10 minutes.
Related Caprese Salad Recipes
- Love the melty taste of hot cheese and fresh tomatoes? Try this Hot Caprese Dip Recipe. Its a great dip to serve to a crowd!
- To bring the great flavors of Caprese into dinner, try this Caprese Stuffed Chicken recipe that puts all that cheese and tomatoes right in the center of the chicken breast.
- Strawberry Caprese Salad is a delightful filling salad that balances sweet summer strawberries, tomatoes, and the tangy balsamic into one.
- Caprese Ladybugs is the perfect summertime appetizer tray! Turn mozzarella, tomatoes, and olives into adorable little ladybugs. No need for talent, this one is EASY.
- Homemade Caprese Pizza is as delicious as it is beautiful with heirloom tomatoes.
- You wont believe how well Ensalada Caprese with Pear goes with a summer BBQ.
- If you are looking for a simple summer dinner, this Caprese Sliders Recipe is done in mere minutes with ALL the flavor.
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How To Make The Tomato And Mozzarella Salad
This recipe is a favorite of mine. There are several versions of this type of salad mixed with mozzarella cheese. The combination of olive oil and spices is what makes this salad so special.
The combination is quite simple. Fresh tomatoes, onion, vinegar, herbs, spices, and olive oil. I used a mixture of salt, pepper, basil, parsley, Blood Orange Infused Olive Oil with a splash of red wine vinegar. The taste is amazing. The taste of the infused olive oil, spices, and herbs mixed with the juices of the tomatoes is just amazing.
Lets not forget the mozzarella cheese that adds just a touch of creaminess to this wonderful combination. Use fresh mozzarella cheese for the best result.
All the ingredients are tossed together and served on a white plate or bowl to show off the vibrant colors of the tomatoes.
Ingredients In This Recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Cherry tomatoes: On this occasion, I used heirloom cherry tomatoes for their varied colour. However, you could use plain red if you prefer. Cherry tomatoes are ideal for roasting. They contain a higher amount of naturally occurring sugar than their larger relatives. Roasting the tomatoes intensifies their flavour and caramelises the sugars, adding an extra flavour dimension. If you have some cherry tomatoes that are a little past their prime and have become wrinkled, do not throw them out. This is a great way to avoid wastage they respond well to roasting, becoming extra sweet and suitable for many uses.
Garlic: I use fresh garlic cloves as the flavour is superior to the bottled variety. This time I want just the flavour so I have crushed the garlic cloves and will remove them before serving.
Olive oil: With so few ingredients, to obtain the best flavour in the salad I always use extra virgin olive oil. As it is the first pressing of the olives and is naturally extracted from the fruit without the use of heat, the flavour is fresher and more intense. I encourage you to use the best olive oil that you have.
Sugar: Although cherry tomatoes contain higher levels of sugar than other tomato varieties, I add a small amount of sugar to counteract their natural acidity.
For a less formal appearance, I prefer to tear the mozzarella rather than cut it evenly.
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How To Make A Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
Making this salad is incredibly simple. There’s no cooking, no need to mix up any salad dressings…if you’ve got kiddos who love fresh tomatoes, they can lend a hand!
Wash the cherry tomatoes under cool water especially if they’re your garden’s summer tomatoes. Get them nice and clean.
Slice about half of them, if you want to keep some whole. Put them into a pretty serving bowl.
Add the small mozzarella balls and tear fresh basil leaves into the bowl.
Get that good drizzle of olive oil going and sprinkle some nice flaky salt on top.
Give it all a toss and enjoy this cool and refreshing dish with all the warm weather!
What Is A Caprese Salad
Caprese salad or insalata caprese is a delicious and simple Italian salad made of fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, sweet basil leaves, and extra virgin olive oil with a good sprinkle of salt. It’s usually eaten as an appetizer, not a side dish, buuuuuuut I’m not judging if this ends up as a side at your next barbecue.
Caprese comes from the Campania region, named after the island of Capri, created by a patriotic bricklayer after World War I, creating a dish inspired by the Italian flag. But it didn’t skyrocket into international popularity until the 1950’s when Egyptian king, King Farouk, was served caprese salad and raved about it.
The classic caprese salad is just one of the many delicious ways to enjoy caprese, there’s also the caprese sandwich, pizza, pasta and even pasta salad.
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How To Make Caprese Salad
Scroll down for the printable recipe.
Variation Ideas For A Tomato Salad
- You might skip the perline and anchor your salad with a burrata cheese instead, for an extra bit of luxury.
- In place of a red wine vinaigrette you could do a fresh basil pesto, thinned to dressing consistency with extra olive oil.
- Add chickpeas, or diced cucumber.
- Crumbled bacon, julienned salami, or feathery pieces of prosciutto would be a nice pop of protein.
- Serve this over fresh greens like arugula or romaine.
- Make it a meal by adding grilled shrimp or thinly sliced ribbons of steak.
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Add The Mozzarella Cheese
Next, we will add the fresh, whole milk mozzarella balls, cows milk or buffalo. For this recipe, you will need a total of 8 ounces. For a visually appealing salad, tear the mozzarella into bite-sized pieces. You can also cut the mozzarella balls into quarters if you prefer.
Add the torn fresh mozzarella to the platter with the cherry tomatoes.
How To Serve Caprese Salad
Ive made this Caprese Salad as a side dish for sharing, rather than a single plate starter as it is often served at restaurants.
But think beyond a side salad! I enjoying having Caprese Salad as light no-cook meals in the hotter months. The bocconcini gives it oomph, especially if you have a crusty roll on the side, so its quite satisfying as a meal.
But my favourite way to serve this Caprese Salad is as bruschetta on toast. Smush up some avocado on toasted sourdough, then pile Caprese Salad on top. Breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Its SO GOOD! Nagi x
Make a meal of it!
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Summer Italian BBQ: Grill this Italian Marinated Chicken, serve with Caprese Salad and crusty bread
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Mozzarella Pearls Or Mozzarella Slices
My favorite part of Caprese Salad is the mozzarella cheese.
Thankfully now that just about every grocery store has a specialty cheese section, there are so many different types of fresh mozzarella to add. While the original recipe used cows milk fresh mozzarella, buffalo-milk mozzarella has become the modern favorite.
When Im looking to get this appetizer on the table even faster, I use balls, otherwise known as pearls, of mozzarella no slicing necessary.
However, if youre looking to add a boost of flavor to your salad, try smoked mozzarella not only is the color lovely, but the additional flavor from the cheese also adds something new and tasty to a simple salad.
The slightly smoky flavor plays well with balsamic vinegar and basil.