A Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. It is usually made with bocconcini, small mozzarella balls, and served as an appetizer or a main course.
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Method
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Place tomatoes, cheese, and basil in a large bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar; sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
- Thread cheese and tomatoes alternately onto 8 (8-inch) skewers.
- Grill skewers, turning once, until cheese is slightly browned and tomatoes are soft, about 4 minutes per side.
Caprese salad is best made with fresh, in-season ingredients. The salad can be served as an appetizer or a main course. For a main course, add some grilled chicken or shrimp to the skewers. This salad can also be made ahead of time and served at room temperature.
Potential changes & improvements
There are many ways to change and improve upon this classic recipe. For example, you could:
- Add some grilled chicken or shrimp to the skewers.
- Use balsamic glaze instead of balsamic vinegar.
- Add some chopped fresh garlic to the dressing.
- Substitute sun-dried tomatoes for the fresh cherry tomatoes.
What other food it works well with
Caprese salad pairs well with a variety of other dishes. Try it with:
- Grilled chicken or shrimp
- Pasta salad
- Roasted vegetables
- Breadsticks or garlic bread
Common Mistakes
When making Caprese salad, avoid these common mistakes:
- Using out-of-season tomatoes. The salad will be much tastier if you use fresh, in-season tomatoes.
- Not cubing the mozzarella cheese. This will make it difficult to skewer the cheese and tomatoes.
- Not using fresh basil. The flavor of the salad will be much better if you use fresh basil instead of dried.
Nutritional Information
Per serving (1 skewer):
- Calories: 107
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 16 mg
- Sodium: 189 mg
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
Allergens
This recipe contains the following allergens:
- Dairy