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Nothing beats a Caprese Salad Recipe. Fresh, flavorful and delicious made with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, sweet basil, and a homemade garlic balsamic dressing! It’s truly the perfect salad all year long. Delicious served as an appetizer to Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs and Garlic Bread. Yum!
But First, What is Caprese Salad?
A Caprese Salad (pronounced kuh·pray·zay) is a simple Italian salad made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, salt, and olive oil. Like the Italian flag, this salad features the white, red, and green colors. It’s extremely popular and for good reason. One bite and you’ll understand the juicy sweet tomatoes paired with the herby basil and the creamy mozzarella is AMAZING.
Only 3 Main Ingredients
There are three main ingredients needed for a traditional Caprese Salad. While I include a few more for the overall recipe, these are the main ones that you’re going to want to find. Remember: since this recipe is only made up of a handful of ingredients, try to use the best quality ingredients you can find.
- Fresh Mozzarella. This mozzarella cheese is the kind that is softer, creamier, and packed in saltwater. I use Bocconcini which are the mini mozzarella balls, but the slices of mozzarella work just fine as well, cut into cubes.
- Fresh Tomatoes. I love using sweet grape tomatoes because regardless of the time of year, these always taste sweet and the quality is good. I hate a grainy tomato in the winter, so always gravitate towards the grape or cherry tomatoes most of the time. If you can find some ripe heirloom tomatoes, by all means, use those. But in case you can’t find those or don’t want to spend the money, the grape tomatoes work great!
- Fresh Basil. Herby and delicious, this is the last ingredient needed for a classic Caprese Salad. There is no real substitute for this and bonus: it’s super easy to grow yourself!
For the Garlic Balsamic Dressing
Honorable mentions for my recipe include balsamic vinegar, pepper, olive oil, garlic and a few extra lettuce greens to fill the salad out more and make it go a little further. If you’re feeding a crowd, this is a great way to stretch a dollar. Of course, the addition of lettuce is totally optional.
Make it a Meal!
You could add this salad with a protein to make it a meal. Chicken Parmesan would be super tasty with this salad recipe.
How to Make Caprese Salad
Follow these quick and simple steps to make your tasty salad.
Assembling the Salad
Place baby greens onto a serving platter. Top with bocconcini (mini mozzarellas), tomatoes, basil, and pepper.
When plating, try putting blocks of color together instead of spreading everything out evenly over the top to make it look pretty. That’s what I did in these photos and it makes for a beautiful presentation.
Making the Balsamic Dressing
I LOVE a good garlicky dressing and this one does not disappoint. While balsamic vinegar is a traditional topping for this salad, the garlic isn’t. But I’m not one to shy away from making the classics a tiny bit more flavorful and garlic seemed like an obvious choice.
Measure out garlic, dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake it up to emulsify, then drizzle it over the salad. Again, makes for a great presentation!
Can Caprese Salad Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes! Absolutely you can make this ahead. Just be sure to store the dressing separately and as much moisture is removed from the fresh mozzarella as possible. Moisture tends to ruin the integrity of the other ingredients, so making sure there isn’t much is key. This Caprese Salad will last up to 3 days in the fridge. Right before serving, top with dressing.
This salad tastes best when freshly made and assembled. Plus it’s super quick to throw together.
Other Italian Favorites!
And there you have it. Printable recipe card is below, make sure to save/pin/print this one out. Enjoy!
Easy Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 1 plastic container of washed baby greens any kind {about 6 cups}
- 1 lb. Bocconcini drained, patted dry and halved {baby mozzarella balls}
- 1 lb. grape tomatoes washed and halved
- 12 large basil leaves chopped
- cracked black pepper to taste
for the dressing-
- 1 clove garlic grated
- 4 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 7 tablespoons olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place baby greens onto a serving platter. Top with bocconcini, tomatoes, basil, and pepper.
- Measure all ingredients for dressing into a small jar with tight-fitting lid. Shake and drizzle over salad. Serve immediately.
This looks super simple and delicious! The garlic balsamic dressing sounds amazing and different!
I love caprese salad as well, one of the tastiest and easiest salads to make!
This is my very favorite caprese salad recipes. I usually make it without the greens, but the dressing is a must. Then if there are any leftovers, we pick out the mozzarella the next day. 🙂 I will pick a caprese salad over just about any kind of salad.
[…] 10. Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing from Lauren’s Lately […]
[…] Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing from Lauren’s Latest […]
That looks so good!!
We love caprese salad too, and here is how to make it even better: dress it with good balsamic vinegar (not the cheap stuff), and pesto. Out of this world!
I love this salad! It looks beautiful, fresh and delicious. The colors are incredible. Can’t wait to make it tonight for dinner!
I’m so going to add this salad to our pasta bar meal. Looks great!
Love this recipe, making it tonight! Adding a few oven fried chicken tenders on the side and calling it a meal! (Will serve some mashed potatoes to the hubby so he is sure to get full.) Thanks for sharing!!
[…] Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing @ Lauren’s Latest […]
[…] Caprese Salad with Garlic-Balsamic Dressing @ Lauren’s Latest […]
Awesome, can’t wait to make and eat.
Hi, thanks for this recipe. Going to baby shower today and making it now. Just wanted to suggest that when writing a recipe tablespoon should be indicated with a capital T (Tablespoon, Tsp. and teaspoon, tsp.) (just an fyi) Thanks again
Made this for a party of picky eaters and it was so very well received. Looked beautiful and tasted fantastic. The dressing was really delicious. Thank you for sharing this!
[…] Sandwich Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing Fresh fruit – we chose farm fresh peaches, but you can use whatever is in season Chocolate […]
Awesome, Lauren. I love this. Pinned and thank you!!
Can the dressing be made ahead of time and placed in the fridge?
yes!
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[…] for the dressing: 1 clove garlic, grated 4 teaspoons dijon mustard 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 7 tablespoons olive oil salt & pepper, to taste Source: laurenslatest […]
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I also add chopped green onions and sliced black olives to mine. Soooo gooood!
ooh, good idea!!
Made this tonight and it was delicious! A hit for husband and myself but also two foody toddlers. A must make folks!
How can I like this comment 6 million times?! Thanks for letting me know, Heidi!
Love it! Just made it for a last minute BBQ we’re attending. Thanks for sharing!
[…] you know me a little bit, you know I am a big fan of Caprese Salad and I want to try this garlic balsamic dressing so […]
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[…] found this great Garlic Balsamic Dressing recipe on Lauren’s Latest blog which I pinned from Pinterest, and it is delicious! Try this, you won’t be […]
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[…] to post a perfect light and summery recipe for you all today. We all know and love the traditional Caprese salad, yes? Well, this is like the tomato-hater version made with {say it with […]
[…] Remember how I promised healthy, gluten-free foods starting on the blog? I do. Since I’ve been gone the past two week I haven’t been able to make anything (ok, I made one healthy gluten/dairy-free dessert, but couldn’t take photos… hold onto your plates I will have the delicious recipe tomorrow!). Anyway, one of my favorite bloggers, Lauren Brennan, had this recipe on her blog a while ago. Can you say delicious? Hop on over to her blog, find the recipe here […]
[…] {Lauren’s Latest} […]
[…] Recipe: Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing […]
[…] Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing […]
I am so glad that I found you; although my husband thinks that I hired someone else to cook for us!
I am looking for a recipe I had but lost…I am hoping you can help me and soon. It is pineapple cuts made in a large cookie sheet pan. It has a cream cheese crust and is not dry at all. The filling has instant vanilla pudding and canned pineapple in it…………however, it is quite versital as to what other ingredients can go in it.
Thanks so much!
Bevie B
[…] Caprese Salad from Lauren’s Latest […]
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[…] Read all the instructions at laurenslatest.com […]
Lauren, this salad looks beautiful and the dressing sounds amazing! Pinning!
Oh my goodness, Lauren, you’re making me wish summer would just hurry the heck up already! This is such a gorgeous caprese!
My fave salad!
I am wanting this SO bad right now! 14 inches of fresh snow outside but this salad says SUMMER!
The dressing sounds amazing YUM!
HA, you speak le same francais as moi. LOVE this gorgeous fresh salad, one can never have too many caprese salads.
I’m with you – brownies all the way! 😀 This salad looks awesome, love a caprese!
Yum!! This looks SO fantastic and has me wishing for summer! Pinning!
This is one of my all time favorites! Love that balsamic!
I LOVE caprese too! I would totally pick anything caprese over anything sweet (but shhhh! Don’t tell people that… it’s bad for business 😉 ). This look delish! Pinned 🙂