Authentic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe
Finally! I wait for summer just so I can fully enjoy this dish.Caprese salad is a harmony of three bold flavors that perfectly represent Italian cuisine: basil, mozzarella, and tomato. Same colors as the Italian flag, coincidence? I don’t think so!
This dish takes literally 5 minutes to prepare, and it can be whatever you want: a side dish, an appetizer, even a main course. You can eat it whenever you like. Its freshness is hard to beat, and the quality of these three simple ingredients makes all the difference.
Choose the Right Basil
Let’s start with the basil. Italian basil is best for this dish, Thai basil just doesn’t have the same familiar flavor. Use only the larger or medium-sized leaves. Don’t tear them, leave them whole, and they’ll give their best.
Mozzarella Better Take It Out The Fridge Before
For the mozzarella, I recommend taking it out of the fridge a bit early so it’s not ice cold when you eat it. Trust me, the flavor will be completely different. Drain it well and slice it into pieces about 1 cm thick. Set them aside.
Tomatoes Which One Choose?
Now the tomatoes, you want the big, juicy, bright red summer ones. Full of flavor and sunshine. Slice them about 1 cm thick as well, matching the size of the mozzarella. And now, here comes the fun part.
Lest Assemble Already!
So grab a large plate and start on one side: one slice of tomato, one slice of mozzarella, one basil leaf. Keep going like that all around the edge of the plate until you complete the circle. You should end up with a colorful ring around the plate, with an empty space in the center.
Finally, season it with plenty of olive oil, salt (don’t forget to season the tomatoes, people often do), and pepper if you like (optional). Some people add dried oregano on top, but personally, oregano reminds me too much of pizza, so I skip it.
The longer a Caprese sits, the more liquid it releases, so I recommend eating it right away and not preparing it too far in advance. Although… that juice at the bottom, soaked up with a piece of good bread? Still delicious! Place the dish in the center of the table and watch your guests light up with joy — all from something so simple.
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Caprese By Any Means
This dish takes literally 5 minutes to prepare, and it can be whatever you want: a side dish, an appetizer, even a main course. You can eat it whenever you like. Its freshness is hard to beat, and the quality of these three simple ingredients makes all the difference.
- Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
– 2 (300g) Large ripe tomatoes Sliced 1cm thick
– 125 g Fresh mozzarella (1 medium ball) Sliced 1cm thick, room temp
– 12 leaves Italian basil Whole, medium/large leaves
– 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil Your best bottle
– ½ tsp Flaky sea salt Or to taste
– Black pepper Optional
Instructions
- Prep: Slice tomatoes and mozzarella into equal 1cm rounds. Let mozzarella sit out 20 mins to lose the fridge chill.
- Arrange: On a large plate, alternate in a circle: tomato → mozzarella → basil leaf. Repeat until you’ve used all slices.
- Dress: Drizzle with olive oil like you mean it. Sprinkle salt directly on tomatoes (trust me). Add pepper if you want.
- Serve: Immediately—this waits for no one. Bonus: Sop up the juices with crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salads
- Cuisine: Italian
