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A white platter with Caprese Salad in the red, white, and green of the Italian Flag.
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5 from 3 votes

Italian Antipasto Caprese Salad Recipe

A classic salad with soft, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese, juicy summer plump tomatoes, and fresh fragrant sweet basil. So simple to make. It's all about the ingredients.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 525kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. Mozzarella Cheese whole milk, sliced
  • 4 Tomatoes washed and sliced
  • 6 oz. Basil Fresh
  • ¼ cup Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper freshly ground

Instructions

  • Starting in the middle of the plate begin arranging the slices like so: one slice of mozzarella, one slice of tomato one large leaf (or two small) of fresh basil.
  • Continue in a circle until all the ingredients are used and you have filled the plate in a spiral.
  • Season with Salt and Pepper to taste.
  • Pour the balsamic vinegar glaze and olive oil evenly over the salad. (This is optional because Classic Caprese Salad does not include a dressing or vinegar.)
  • Serve and enjoy immediately.

Notes

  • For a superior Caprese Salad recipe, splurge on the juiciest tomatoes you can find. That's why summer tomatoes are the best for flavor and texture.
  • Don't get the cheap mozzarella cheese for this salad. Grab a ball of the fresh, creamy cheese that is packed in water.
  • If you have a basil plant in your garden that's all the better. The fresher and greener is all the better.
  • No cheap olive oil for this recipe. You want excellent cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil to drizzle on top of the insalata.
  • Although balsamic vinegar is not part of the classic insalata Caprese, a good balsamic glaze adds a sweet and tangy note to the dish.
  • Flakey sea salt is perfect on the tomatoes as well as freshly ground black pepper.
  • This salad is best served at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 525kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 956mg | Potassium: 405mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3201IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 825mg | Iron: 2mg