Chilled Picnic-Style Caprese Salad with Fresh Basil
A refreshing and vibrant salad combining fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil, perfect for a scenic outdoor meal. This Mediterranean-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 10 minutes, pairs fresh mozzarella cheese, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil leaves into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
- 3 medium ripe tomatoes
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Slice 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese and 3 medium ripe tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
- Step 2: On a large plate, alternate layers of mozzarella and tomato slices, overlapping slightly to form a circle.
- Step 3: Tear 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves and scatter them evenly over the layered cheese and tomatoes.
- Step 4: Drizzle 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar over the entire salad.
- Step 5: Season with 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
