Simple healthy tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad with fresh ingredients!
I first tasted a version of this salad at a potluck and I was hooked! Although you can get the ingredients any time of year, it is always best use them in season – especially the tomatoes.
Cherry or grape tomatoes can be grown in containers on your porch or patio and will yield quite a bountiful harvest with just a little care. You can also use some of the very colorful heirloom tomatoes which are usually less sweet but add beautiful color and flavor. Fresh basil is an absolute must for this salad.
I made a few modifications to this recipe from the original. Using mozzarella cheese sticks instead of a block made it much easier. And – if you have access to a Trader Joe’s – I just found that they have fresh mozzarella sticks!
This salad is perfect for potlucks and picnics. Just add all of the ingredients to a bowl, mix it up, and take it along. No need to worry about keeping it cold. Make sure to taste it and add more seasoning as needed. It will need plenty of salt!
Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 16 oz mozzarella sticks sliced in 1/2-inch slices
- 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Notes
- choose a variety of small tomatoes to add more color
- use whole-milk mozzarella sticks to add healthy fat
- remove from refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to serving since the olive oil will congeal when cold
- you can also use avocado oil in place of the olive oil – or a combination of both
- this is great for picnics and potlucks – can be made a day or two ahead of time
- make sure to taste this and adjust seasoning
