Classic Caprese Salad

There’s nothing like an amazing Caprese Salad! Combine perfectly ripe, juicy tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and peppery basil.

There’s no better way to showcase the best tomatoes of the summer: caprese salad! This salad represents the best of Italian cuisine: beautiful ingredients combined elegantly and simply. Alex and I visited the island of Capri on our honeymoon and one of our fondest memories is eating this salad. That’s why we prepare large batches every summer when the tomatoes are at their peak. Here’s how to do it perfect caprese salad!

Who Invented the Caprese Salad, Also Called Insalata Caprese?

Caprese salad is Italian caprese salad, meaning “Capri Salad.” It’s a simple salad made with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves, seasoned with salt and pepper. As with the Pizza Margherita, each of the ingredients corresponds to the colors of the Italian flag: red, white and green.

Who invented this popular salad? The first mention of the Caprese salad was on a 1920s menu at the Hotel Quisisana, a 5-star hotel on the island of Capri. The salad didn’t catch on until the 1950s when King Farouk of Egypt visited Capri and tried it as a sandwich. He praised it, and it caught on, becoming the international sensation it is today!

How do you do that better Caprese Salad: Find the Best Tomatoes

Preparing the best Caprese salad is all about the ingredients! Italian cuisine is often simple and uses the highest quality ingredients to achieve the best flavor. Here’s what you should know to find the best tomatoes for caprese salad:

• Use only juicy, perfectly ripe tomatoes. Don’t even think about making this recipe outside of tomato season. Buy only ripe and juicy tomatoes: and if possible, local tomatoes! A farmers market is a great place to shop. Garden tomatoes get even more points.
• Heirloom tomatoes add flavor nuances and color variations. Heirloom tomatoes are a variety that has been passed down through several generations of a family by preserving the seeds. Each heirloom tomato has a different flavor and beautiful color, ranging from red and green to yellow and purple. Get creative and use heirlooms if you like!

Use fresh mozzarella or burrata

Fresh mozzarella must not be missing here: the higher quality, the better! And if you can find burrata, it’s definitely worth it. Here are some notes about cheese:

• Find the best fresh mozzarella. Opt for a fresh, mid-range mozzarella found at the cheese counter in your grocery store. If you have a local dairy and can buy some at the farmers market, even better!
• Garnish with burrata cheese. Burrata cheese is fresh mozzarella with cream in it, and the man is rich and decadent! It’s perfect for caprese salad with a little twist (or use it for burrata salad).
• Cut them into rings or tear them into pieces. Caprese salad is often served with slices of mozzarella cheese. But we like tearing it up: it makes it easier to eat and looks more interesting.

Season with olive oil, salt and pepper

Caprese salad is so easy because you hardly need a recipe. Slice tomatoes, tear apart mozzarella and sprinkle with basil leaves. The only thing left to do is drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. That is Absolutely necessary, as fresh tomatoes must be well seasoned with salt.

Step it up: drizzle with balsamic reduction

Do you really want to impress your guests with this Caprese Salad? Add the balsamic reduction! This syrupy glaze is also Italian and adds flair to this recipe by providing a tangy sweet component. It is absolutely not necessary and in fact not very traditional. But many restaurants serve their caprese salad this way to spice it up. It’s very easy to make and you don’t even need a recipe! Here are the basic steps:

• Bring to a boil: In a small saucepan, add ½ cup or more balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low.
• Cook: Simmer gently, until reduced by half and covering the back of a spoon, about 10-15 minutes.
• Cool: Remove from heat, then transfer to a separate container to cool.

Variations on Caprese Salad

The Caprese Salad is so popular that it has inspired many variations on the theme! Here are some other foods that contain the popular combo of mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil:

This Caprese Salad Recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten free.