summer caprese salad recipe

For this summer caprese salad recipe, ripe, juicy garden tomatoes are sliced, topped with fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper for added texture and flavor.

Caprese is a summer tradition.

For many years we have been planting tomato fields. We always grow a few Roma plants, a cherry tomato (my favorite!), and a few beefsteaks for BLTs, mother-in-law’s tacos, capri platters, etc. But then life happened (and hornworms – oh!) and we stopped planting tomato fields. Now, I always make this Capri salad when friends or in-laws gift me tomatoes from their gardens. It’s simple, light and refreshing, so it goes with anything.

Garden tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and high quality olive oil. Quite literally, what dreams are made of.

To make this summer caprese salad recipe, you’ll need:

A few large tomatoes – For the best flavor, use tomatoes from your garden or heirlooms. Fresh Mozzarella – You can also use pre-sliced ​​or torn pieces. Basil leaves – add a fresh, unique flavor. High-quality olive oil – was once used for drizzling and finishing dishes. Flaky sea salt – adds texture and enhances flavor. Coarsely ground black pepper – adds a subtle bite and flavor. Balsamic Glaze – Reduced balsamic vinegar is sweet and syrupy. Use homemade or store-bought.

Look at this beauty!

For this recipe, I always buy fresh sliced ​​mozzarella. Trust me, this will save you a lot of time and give you evenly sliced ​​mozzarella. This is a feat I would never be able to accomplish alone.

That means 1 pound of sliced ​​mozzarella logs yields 16 slices. That means you’ll need enough large tomatoes to get 16 slices.

All that’s left to do is add layers. Tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves.

repeat.

Drizzle with high quality olive oil.

Season with flaky sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and, if desired, drizzle with a few spoonfuls of balsamic glaze.

In other words 😍.

How to enjoy Caprese salad:

We recommend serving it with grilled bread, but you can also enjoy it on its own. It’s also great served with grilled chicken, steak, salmon, simple pasta dishes, or grilled vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and arugula.

enjoy! If you try this summer caprese salad recipe, please let me know! Take a photo and tag me on Twitter or Instagram!

This recipe was originally posted on August 19, 2020 and has been updated with clear and concise instructions, new photos, and helpful information.