This simple salad of tomato, basil and mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil and salt and pepper is also known as Insalata Caprese. Whatever you call it, you'll definitely call it delicious!
Insalata Caprese. Those two words make me sigh in a wonderful, contented manner. I don't even know what they mean, though a quick trip around the net, tells me know that they mean, salad in the style of Capri. Oh, Capri, I've never been, but I obviously love you.
I have been making this salad ever since I first stumbled upon it in 2008. It's been sitting here on my blog all that time without a recipe card or a photo!
Probably because it's hardly a recipe. You basically make a salad of tomato, basil and mozzarella. The first time I make it each year, with summer's fresh tomatoes, it's like I officially welcome summer with this salad.
Ingredients
Mozzarella Cheese - try to find good quality fresh mozzarella cheese. With so few ingredients, you really want to use the best you can find. I found this fresh organic mozzarella at Publix!
Olive Oil - again, use your best extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. You want the flavor to shine.
Basil - my basil is flourishing, have you tried my instructions for Rooting Basil in Water so you too can have oodles of basil!
Tomatoes - fresh summer tomatoes! We get ours from a CSA, so they are locally grown and perfect.
Salt and Pepper.
Instructions
I like to layer my salad, so I slice everything thinly, you can also just dice everything if you want that sort of look.
Arrange the tomatoes in a shallow tart dish.
Tuck the mozzarella cheese in between the tomatoes.
Place the basil leaves in between the tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. You can go as light or as heavy as you like, whatever looks good to you.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
How gorgeous is that salad?! Everyone is impressed when you bring it out. And really, it couldn't be any easier!
This salad doesn't keep well in the fridge, so make it fresh! I like to let mine sit for about 10-15 minutes before serving.
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Recipe
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Insalata Caprese (Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad)
Ingredients
- 4 Tomatoes
- 15 Basil leaves
- 8 ounces Fresh mozzarella
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Thinly slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.
- Arrange the tomatoes in a tart pan.
- Wedge in the mozzarella cheese and a basil leaf between the tomatoes.
- Drizzle with the olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Let rest for 10 minutes.
Notes
Equipment
Video
Nutrition
This was originally published in 2008 and has been updated for 2020.
This was perfect for our dinner party we hosted, everyone loved it and it was easy to serve!
Love this recipe! So tasty and really easy. Will definitely be making again!
This yummy salad is so colorful and definitely healthy too. Love such yummy platters for a light meal option. The drizzle of Olive oil makes it perfect.
This is one of my most favorite salads ever. Love the flavors and the vibrant colors 🙂
Caprese is always a winner in my house. My family loves it. Your caprese looks really gorgeous. So tasty and delicious. I will give your recipe a try.
This looks delicious, thank you for sharing!
This is exactly what I was looking for. I saw this at Ikea and didn't get it. Then I went back and it wasn't there. I tried making it, but I didn't even know what it was called. I figured it would be simple, but I don't think I gave the flavors enough time to meld because all I could taste was the oil.
I can't wait for tomatoes from my garden, the first ones are going into this dish, you've convinced me of that! So delicious and so beautiful just to look at!
Just what we had last night. I can't think of a better way to use fresh basil and tomatoes.
One of my top favorite salads, Pam. And that, my friend, is an absolutely beautiful photo!
That looks perfect!
This is one of my favorite salads. I like making a vinaigrette with the olive oil and vinegar and adding minced capers and shallots. White balsamic vinegar is so great with this too.
It's pure summer and this is just behind the greek salad (biased I am).
my new mantra--tomato, mozzarella, basil. tomato, mozzarella, basil. tomato, mozzarella, basil. 🙂
I also hem and haw about the order of things. And having once settled on it, I then can never vary. My dearly beloved tells me it's the OCD kicking in....
YES! I was hoping to see how you fixed those tomatoes...and I was right. Just didn't know if you cooked them at all. I will go home and give this a try.
Perfect! We ate this often when growing up and I still love it today. As soon as I saw your picture, I remembered this old Italian song my mom sang to us in the kitchen when we were little about "a fellow named Tony who loved a girl named Marie ... at home on the Isle of Capri". Sniff, now I'm all sappy!
Of course another perfect recipe!