Caprese Salad (2024)

FAQs

What is caprese salad made of? ›

Fresh, thick-sliced tomatoes, equally thick slices of mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. That's it! There's nothing complicated about it. A drizzle of olive oil, some of that balsamic reduction, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper and you're set.

All things considered, YES a Caprese salad is a healthy option! Low in calories with a bunch of important nutrients coming from the vegetables and healthy fats from the cheese and olive oil. Basil also is a strong anti-inflammatory with enzyme-inhibiting oils.

For every 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, substitute 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar or red wine vinegar plus ½ tsp. sugar.

One of my favorite easy snacks in the world is a combo of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. Heaven! It's a healthy trio, but one of these ingredients may have some pretty impressive heart-health benefits... It's the most delicious, easy, classic salad: tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.

When selecting tomatoes, choose fragrant ones that smell earthy at the stem end and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with wrinkled skins. You can also make a caprese with smaller tomato varieties, such as plum, roma, cherry, grape, or sungold.

Balsamic glaze is also called a “balsamic reduction.” It is essentially a reduction of balsamic vinegar. Additional sweeteners like honey or sugar can be added. The balsamic vinegar is simmered in a saucepan until it has reduced down and thickened to a maple-syrup consistency.

The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos".

The polyphenols found in balsamic vinegar have antioxidant properties that multiple studies show may help improve cardiovascular health. While not a substitute for medication, incorporating balsamic vinegar into a heart-healthy diet could be a small but flavorful step toward maintaining healthy blood pressure.

It is eaten with a fork. Use the fork to cut a piece of tomato and mozzarella to eat together in one bite. What do you serve with Caprese salad? It can be served with pasta, pizza, chicken, or sandwiches.

Worcestershire Sauce

As with soy sauce, you can always try adding a drizzle of lemon juice and sweetener to Worcestershire to help it replicate balsamic vinegar's flavor more closely.

What can I use instead of mozzarella in Caprese? ›

If you're going to cook and want a melted cheese vibe then Gruyere cheese, cheddar or Swiss cheese would be the best substitutes. But if you're using the fresh mozzarella balls in a Caprese salad with basil and tomatoes I'd go for a softer cheese like ricotta or goats cheese or even labneh (yogurt cheese balls).

Spinach, particularly baby spinach, can be a great substitute for basil in dishes where the herb would be served raw, like pesto or Caprese salads. Spinach provides similar color and texture to fresh basil, although it lacks some of the herb's aromatic nuance.

The best dishes to serve with Caprese Salad are grilled meat, garlic bread, pasta, or a charcuterie board.

Better yet, it's healthy, too! A serving of this caprese salad is just 83 calories, 3 grams of carbs, or 3 WW (Weight Watchers) Points.

To Make Ahead: This easy Caprese salad is definitely best served fresh but it can stay in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you need to make it ahead of time, slice the mozzarella and tomatoes and store them separately in the refrigerator.

As it's called in Italian, Insalata caprese, Caprese salad literally means “Salad of Capri.” Although nobody knows whether or not the salad was actually first made on the Italian island, it likely originated from a dish made in Capri from a different type of cheese, cacio, served with tomatoes.

Caprese salad is an Italian dish, also referred to as Insalata Caprese. The dish received its name from Capri, an island off the coast of Naples, Italy. You will notice that my recipe doesn't include balsamic vinegar.

Ovolini mozzarella is just one size down from your standard large ball, perfect for when you're making a caprese for just one or two people. It can be made with buffalo milk, cow's milk, or a combination, but inside the states, it will be made with 100 percent cow's milk.