Modern Caprese Salad
Why this recipe works
- Ready in minutes: With no cooking required, the salad comes together quickly through simple slicing, arranging and dressing.
- Clean balance: Balsamic vinegar adds gentle acidity against the creamy mozzarella and sweet, ripe tomatoes.
- Ingredient-led flavour: The short ingredient list keeps the focus on freshness, seasoning and the quality of the tomatoes, basil and olive oil.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Use ripe, room-temperature tomatoes: Tomatoes give the best flavour when fully ripe and not fridge-cold; chilling can dull their sweetness and aroma.
- Dry very wet mozzarella: Patting the cheese dry helps prevent excess liquid from diluting the dressing and making the plate watery.
- Choose a good olive oil: Because the dressing is so simple, a fruity extra virgin olive oil makes a noticeable difference.
Texture tips
- Dress just before serving: Spoon the dressing over the salad at the end so the tomatoes stay bright and the basil remains fresh.
- Slice evenly: Keeping the tomato and mozzarella slices a similar thickness gives a balanced bite and neater presentation.
Authenticity notes
- Modern Caprese style: Classic Caprese is usually very simple, while this version adds balsamic vinegar for a slightly tangier, more contemporary finish.
- Natural Italian pairing: Tomato, mozzarella, basil and olive oil are the defining elements, giving the salad its recognisable fresh, milky and herbal character.
Make-ahead tips
- Prep lightly ahead: The tomatoes and mozzarella can be sliced shortly before serving, but keep the dressing separate until the last moment.
- Best eaten fresh: Caprese is at its best straight after assembly; stored leftovers will release juice and lose their clean texture.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes into 5 to 7 mm rounds and slice the mozzarella to a similar thickness. Pat the mozzarella dry if it is very wet so the salad stays bright and not watery.
- Whisk the extra virgin olive oil with the balsamic vinegar, fine sea salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust with a pinch more salt if needed.
- Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices on a serving plate, tucking in the basil leaves as you go. Spoon over the dressing, letting it pool lightly around the salad rather than soaking it.
- Finish with a final grind of black pepper and serve straight away while the tomatoes are at their best.
Recipe notes
Tips
- Use tomatoes at room temperature for the fullest flavour; chilled tomatoes taste muted.
- If your tomatoes are very juicy, salt them lightly and leave for 2 minutes, then pour off any excess liquid before dressing.
Substitutions
- Replace balsamic vinegar with white balsamic vinegar for a lighter colour and a gentler tang.
- Replace fresh mozzarella with burrata cheese for a softer, creamier centre.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 1 days
- Best eaten immediately. If you must store it, refrigerate in a sealed container and eat within 24 hours; bring back to room temperature for 10 minutes before serving, and expect the tomatoes to release some juice.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 2 servings
- Total time: 10min (10min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Italian
-
Allergens:
Milk
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad with Feta and Olives)
Greek salad with feta, olives, tomato and cucumber
Southwest Chicken Caesar Salad
Chicken Caesar salad with smoky lime dressing and tortillas
Cobb Salad (Chicken, Bacon, Egg, Avocado and Blue Cheese Salad)
Composed salad with chicken, bacon, egg, avocado and blue cheese
Endive and Walnut Salad with Roquefort
Crisp endive salad with walnuts, Roquefort and Dijon dressing
Modern Kimchi Slaw
Crisp kimchi slaw with cabbage and sesame dressing
Italian Lentil and Tuna Salad (Insalata di Lenticchie e Tonno)
Italian lentil and tuna salad with capers and lemon
Tramezzini al Tonno e Capperi (Italian Tuna and Caper Sandwiches)
Soft tuna and caper sandwiches with mayonnaise and lemon
Memelas with Black Beans, Queso Fresco and Salsa Verde
Griddled masa memelas topped with black beans and salsa verde
Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette)
Thick Spanish omelette with potatoes and onion
Gorditas (Masa Corn Pockets Stuffed with Minced Beef)
Masa pockets filled with spiced minced beef, lettuce, salsa and cotija
Argentinian Choripán (Grilled Chorizo Sandwich with Chimichurri)
Grilled chorizo sandwich in crusty bread with chimichurri
Chicken Shawarma Wrap with Tahini Sauce
Chicken shawarma wrap with salad and tahini sauce
Caprese Salad (Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Salad)
Tomato, mozzarella and basil salad with olive oil
Caprese-Style Tomato and Burrata Salad with Basil
Tomato and burrata salad with basil, olive oil and balsamic
Insalata Caprese con Burrata (Tomato and Burrata Salad)
Ripe tomatoes and burrata with basil, olive oil and balsamic
Air Fryer Bruschetta
Crisp air-fried bruschetta topped with tomato and basil.
Bruschetta with Tomato and Garlic (Bruschetta al Pomodoro e Aglio)
Toasted bread topped with fresh tomato and garlic
Pasta al Pomodoro Fresco (Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato and Basil)
Spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil and parmesan
You might also like
Haemul Pajeon (Seafood and Spring Onion Pancake)
Seafood and spring onion pancake with soy vinegar dipping sauce
Amandelkrans (Almond Wreath Pastry)
Buttery almond wreath pastry with flaked almonds and icing glaze
Salted Lime Soda
Fizzy lime drink with sugar, salt and ice
Fresh Coconut Water
Chilled coconut water poured from a young coconut over ice
Kimchi Jjigae (Korean Kimchi and Pork Belly Stew with Tofu)
Korean kimchi and pork belly stew finished with soft tofu
Gujeolpan (Korean Royal Nine-Section Platter with Crêpes)
Korean crêpes served with beef, egg strips and vegetables
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife
- AUS-10 steel
- Balanced design
- Less traditional feel
Titanium & PP Double-Sided Cutting Board
- Separate surfaces for meat and produce
- Resists odors and stains
- Harder on knife edges than wood or plastic
OXO Good Grips Stainless Mixing Bowl Set
- Non-slip base
- Comfort grip
- Higher price
OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
- Two useful sizes with reversible cutting surfaces
- Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
- Plastic surfaces will show knife marks over time
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
