Tomato Caprese Salad (Classic Italian Salad)

This tomato caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, sweet basil, and good olive oil. It's fresh, juicy, creamy, and one of the easiest summer side dishes or appetizers to make when tomatoes are at their best.

A good tomato caprese salad is one of those dishes that proves simple food can be unforgettable. I still remember the first time I had caprese salad. I was about 13, eating at a small neighborhood Italian restaurant with my aunt and uncle, who really introduced me to the amazing food world. The salad was served as a beautiful little stack, and it was the first time I had ever tasted fresh mozzarella. It was creamy, milky, and completely different from the cheese I knew at the time.

Since then, caprese salad has always been one of my favorite food memories. We love making this classic tomato mozzarella salad as a simple appetizer, a light summer lunch, or as part of a Mediterranean-style spread. If you love these flavors, you may also enjoy our Caprese Skewers or Caprese Chicken for another way to use that classic mozzarella, tomato, and basil combination.

Scroll down for step-by-step photos, tips for choosing the best tomatoes, and easy serving ideas.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Tomato Caprese Salad
• What Is Caprese Salad? (Origin, Meaning & Pronunciation)
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Seasonality: When Are Tomatoes in Season?
• Best Tomatoes for Caprese Salad
• How to Make Tomato Caprese Salad
• Tips for Making the Best Caprese Salad
• Flavor Variations, Substitutions and Add-Ins
• What to Serve with Tomato Caprese Salad
• Best Wine Pairings
• Storage Instructions
• FAQ's
• More Tomato Recipes to Try
• Tomato Caprese Salad (Classic Italian Salad)

Why You'll Love This Tomato Caprese Salad

• Simple and seasonal - Just a handful of fresh ingredients.
• No cooking needed - Perfect for warm summer days.
• Classic Italian flavor - Tomato, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil are the stars.
• Quick to make - Ready in about 10 minutes.
• Perfect for entertaining - Serve it as an appetizer, side dish, or part of an antipasti spread.

What Is Caprese Salad? (Origin, Meaning & Pronunciation)

Caprese salad is a classic Italian salad made with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It's typically served as an antipasto, or starter, before the main meal.

The salad is named after the island of Capri in Italy. It's also known for its simple, beautiful colors - red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil - which reflect the colors of the Italian flag.

Caprese is pronounced kuh-PRAY-zay, so caprese salad sounds like kuh-PRAY-zay salad. It's a small detail, but a helpful one if you're ordering it at a restaurant or chatting about the recipe with friends.

A traditional caprese salad is all about quality ingredients. There are no heavy dressings or complicated additions. Just ripe tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, fragrant basil, and good olive oil.

Traditionally, Italians don't add balsamic vinegar, balsamic vinaigrette or balsamic glaze to caprese salad. While it's a popular addition in many modern versions, the classic recipe keeps things simple so the natural flavors of the ingredients can really shine.

Ingredients You'll Need

This easy caprese salad uses just a few simple ingredients, so quality really matters here.

• Ripe tomatoes - Use the best tomatoes you can find. They should be sweet, juicy, and full of flavor.
• Fresh mozzarella - Use fresh mozzarella, either sliced or torn into rustic pieces. You can also use bocconcini or mozzarella balls for a different look.
• Fresh basil leaves - Sweet Italian basil gives the salad its classic fresh flavor.
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper - Simple seasoning brings out the natural sweetness of the tomatoes.
• Extra virgin olive oil - Use a good quality olive oil because it becomes part of the flavor of the salad.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Seasonality: When Are Tomatoes in Season?

Tomatoes are usually at their best in summer, when they are naturally sweet, juicy, and full of flavor.

This is the perfect time to make a traditional caprese salad because the recipe relies on the quality of the tomatoes. During tomato season, you don't need much more than fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make them shine.

Want to learn more about seasonal produce? Explore the USDA Seasonal Produce Guide.

Best Tomatoes for Caprese Salad

The best tomatoes for caprese salad are ripe, flavorful tomatoes served at room temperature. Since tomatoes are the main ingredient, this is the time to use the best ones you can find.

• Heirloom tomatoes - Beautiful, colorful, and full of flavor. These are our favorite choices when tomatoes are in season.
• Campari tomatoes - Sweet, juicy, and a good size for slicing.
• Roma or plum tomatoes - Firmer and less watery, which can be helpful if you want a neater presentation.
• Cherry or grape tomatoes - Great for a chopped caprese salad or a bite-sized version.
• Beefsteak tomatoes - Large, juicy, and perfect for a classic sliced tomato mozzarella salad.

Chef's Tip: Avoid hard, underripe tomatoes if you can. Caprese salad is simple, so watery or flavorless tomatoes will make the whole dish feel flat.

How to Make Tomato Caprese Salad

Arrange the tomatoes

• Arrange the sliced tomatoes on a serving platter, slightly overlapping them.

Chef's Tip: Use the ripest tomatoes you can find. Since there are only a few ingredients in this salad, good tomatoes make all the difference.

Add the mozzarella

• Alternate the sliced mozzarella pieces between the tomato slices.

Add the basil

• Tuck the basil leaves between the tomatoes and mozzarella.

Chef's Tip: Tear large basil leaves by hand rather than chopping them. This helps preserve their aroma and keeps the salad looking fresh.

Season

• Season lightly with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Finish and serve

• Drizzle lightly with good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar or Balsamic Glaze just before serving.
• Serve immediately.

Tips for Making the Best Caprese Salad

• Use ripe tomatoes - The better the tomatoes, the better the salad.
• Serve at room temperature - Tomatoes and mozzarella both taste better when they're not fridge-cold.
• Pat the mozzarella dry - This keeps the platter from becoming watery.
• Use fresh basil, not dried - Dried basil doesn't work well in this salad.
• Season lightly but properly - A little flaky salt and black pepper make a big difference.
• Use good olive oil - Choose an extra virgin olive oil you enjoy the taste of.

Flavor Variations, Substitutions and Add-Ins

This tomato mozzarella salad is simple and traditional, but there are a few easy ways to change it up.

• Switch up the mozzarella - Use bocconcini for a bite-sized version or burrata for a creamier twist. You can also try our marinated mozzarella balls for extra flavor. 
• Use mixed tomatoes - Try a mix of heirloom, cherry, grape, and beefsteak tomatoes for color and texture.
• Add avocado - Creamy avocado pairs well with tomato, basil, and mozzarella.
• Add peaches or nectarines - A lovely summer variation with sweet fruit and creamy cheese.
• Add toasted pine nuts - For a little crunch and nutty flavor.
• Add prosciutto or Parma ham - A delicious non-vegetarian variation.
• Use basil pesto - A small drizzle of basil pesto can add extra herb flavor.

What to Serve with Tomato Caprese Salad

This tomato caprese salad pairs beautifully with grilled meats, seafood, simple pasta dishes, and summer salads.

• As an appetizer - Serve it before a simple Italian-style meal, or try it alongside our Peach Appetizer Skewers.
• With antipasti or grazing boards - Add it to a spread with olives, cured meats, bread, and cheese. It would be lovely with our easy charcuterie board.
• With chicken or lamb - Serve it with roast chicken, grilled chicken, lamb koftas, or Mediterranean roast lamb.
• With seafood - It pairs beautifully with grilled shrimp, pan fried white fish or baked salmon.
• With summer salads - Serve it as part of a BBQ side dish spread with our Greek Salad, Watermelon Salad with Feta, Italian Pasta Salad, Cucumber Feta Salad, or Mediterranean Bulgur Salad.
• With bread - Add crusty ciabatta, sourdough, no knead bread or focaccia to soak up the tomato juices and olive oil.

Best Wine Pairings

Tomato caprese salad pairs best with crisp, refreshing wines that can handle the acidity of the tomatoes and the creaminess of the mozzarella.

• Sauvignon Blanc - Bright acidity and citrus notes work beautifully with fresh tomatoes and basil.
• Pinot Grigio - Light, crisp, and easy to pair with simple Italian salads.
• Dry Rosé - A lovely summer pairing, especially if you're serving caprese salad outdoors or with grilled food.
• Prosecco - Fresh bubbles make this feel like a simple but elegant appetizer.

Storage Instructions

• Fridge: This salad is best enjoyed fresh at room temperature. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. The tomatoes will release liquid as they sit.
• Freezer: Not freezer friendly.

FAQ's

More Tomato Recipes to Try

If you love fresh tomato recipes like this one, you may also like:

• Homemade Napolitana Sauce 
• Jerusalem Salad
• Greek Baked Cod with Tomatoes

Tomato caprese salad is one of those simple recipes that feels special because every ingredient has a purpose. Ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fresh basil, olive oil, and a little seasoning come together in just a few minutes, but the result is fresh, beautiful, and full of flavor.

Give it a try when tomatoes are in season, and let us know in the comments how it turned out! Don't forget to Pin it for later or share it with a friend who loves simple Italian recipes.

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.