Caprese Salad

4 Servings
15 min

Fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella…three of my favorite things to eat, in one great salad…Caprese Salad! It makes a nice lunch or light dinner. And in the summer, if you have a garden and grow tomatoes and basil, it’s so nice to be able to go out to your backyard and pick your meal fresh from the garden!

Here’s a gardening tip too: instead of using bug sprays on your tomato or basil plants, plant big bunches of marigolds near them—I’ve found that marigolds are great at helping to keep the bugs away!

The tomatoes are drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and a dash of red wine vinegar...so delicious!

Recipe details
  • 4  Servings
  • Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 0 Minutes Total time: 15 min
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh tomatoes (about 5-6 medium)
  • 12 ounces Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon each (or to taste) of salt, pepper, and sugar
  • 2 to 3 Tablespoons fresh basil leaves
  • 4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Optional: Dash of red wine vinegar
  • Optional: 2 Tablespoons toasted pine nuts
Instructions

Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, and arrange on a serving platter. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar if desired.
Scatter basil leaves over the tomatoes and cheese (if using large basil leaves, you can chop them if you want; if using smaller basil leaves, just keep them whole).
Drizzle the olive oil over the tomatoes and cheese. Add a dash or two of red wine vinegar if desired.
Sprinkle on the toasted pine nuts if desired (to toast the nuts, put them in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until they are a pale golden color).
Serve your salad with warm Italian ciabatta bread, garlic bread, or your favorite crusty bread.!
NancyC | nancy-c.com
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Comments
  • One of my all time favorites when my tomatoes start to fruit and ripen. For a twist, swap out the basil for cilantro. And I have also swapped out basil for parsley for a slightly different flavor. I have never used sugar on fresh tomatoes, and will prepare as written. Toasted pine nuts are a fun addition. My tomatoes are in ground and waiting . . . But not patiently! 🍅🍅🍅

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