How to Make Caprese Salad (The Easy Way!)

Making this 3-ingredient caprese salad couldn’t be more convenient and easy, and it is so incredibly good! You can have it ready to go from start to finish in less than 10 minutes. Here’s how I make it.

If you’re looking for more fresh (and addictive) tomato salad ideas like this easy caprese salad, also try my Marinated Tomato Salad, Cucumber Tomato Salad and Mediterranean Tomato Feta Salad.

What is a Caprese Salad?

Caprese salad is a classic salad that originated in Italy. It’s traditionally made with tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil.

How to Make Caprese Salad

• Prep the tomatoes and cheese. To start, slice up your tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.
• Arrange the ingredients. Use a plate and evenly arrange your tomato slices and mozzarella slices.
• Season. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Drizzle. Drizzle the salad with your homemade basil olive oil mixture and (optionally) the balsamic glaze.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Basil Olive Oil

There’s a good chance that extra virgin olive oil is my number one most used cooking ingredient. I literally use it with just about everything, not just for its flavor but its health benefits as well.

Olive oil is a great source of disease-fighting antioxidants thanks to its high monounsaturated fatty acid content. It’s also been found to improve insulin resistance, cholesterol levels, and even provide certain anti-inflammatory benefits. (1)

With all of that in mind, here’s how you can make your own homemade basil olive oil to pair with this caprese salad.

• Blend until smooth. Add your fresh basil leaves and extra virgin olive oil to a blender and blend until smooth.
• Simmer. Take your blended mixture and add it into a saucepan. Let it simmer for about 45 seconds.
• Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Start by straining the oil through a fine mesh strainer before straining it a second time using a paper filter (a coffee filter works great for this) into a small bowl.
• Give the basil oil a few hours to settle at room temperature.

Is Caprese Salad Healthy?

It all depends on what exactly you’re making your salads with and there are certainly exceptions to every rule. With that being said, caprese salad is quite a healthy salad option indeed. Here are a few reasons why:

• Plenty of important micronutrients. Tomatoes are an excellent source of several essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, vitamin k, and folate, while the basil leaves also provide you with vitamins A and C, manganese, magnesium, and more.
• Antioxidant content. Both tomatoes and the basil olive oil drizzle are packed full of antioxidants. Tomatoes provide you with an antioxidant compound known as lycopene. (2)
• Heart healthy fats. Olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet, which consists of plenty of heart healthy fats and healthy vegetables.
• Excellent source of calcium. Last but not least, this caprese salad recipe is also a great source of dietary calcium thanks to the mozzarella cheese slices.

(You may also like: Chunky Cucumber Tomato Salad with Avocado Vinegar Dressing)

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More Yummy Tomato Recipes

I have plenty more where that came from, starting with these three favorites:

• Oven Sun Dried Tomatoes Using Cherry Tomatoes – Who knew that the best sun dried tomatoes I’ve ever had would actually be made with an oven?
• Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo Pasta with Grilled Chicken Breast – This protein-packed recipe really does do it all; the creamy alfredo pasta is simply to die for.
• Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic – It’s as simple as the title says, but this recipe has completely changed my way of cooking! It’s incredible with pasta, on toast, or with other tapas-style dishes.

More Good Caprese Recipes (Try these!)

• Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad(A Beautiful Plate)
• Grilled Caprese Sandwich(Dinner at the Zoo)
• Caprese Chicken Nachos(Diethood)
• Caprese Strudel(An Italian In My Kitchen)
• Caprese Grilled Eggplant Roll Ups(Caroline’s Cooking)
• Caprese Chicken & Quinoa Casserole(Eat Yourself Skinny)
• Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms(Cafe Delites)
• Balsamic Caprese Quinoa Salad(Joy Food Sunshine)
• Caprese Quiche(The Life Jolie)
• Caprese Sliders(Domestic Superhero)
• Caprese Macaroni and Cheese(Courtney’s Sweets)
• Burrata Caprese Salad(The View from Great Island)
• Chopped Avocado Caprese Salad(Wholesome Yum)
• Caprese Chicken Salad(The Pinning Mama)
• Caprese Avocado Toast(Two Peas & Their Podd)
• Caprese Skillet Lasagna(Salt & Lavender)
• Caprese Pasta(Chelsea’s Messy Apron)
• Caprese Stuffed Balsamic Chicken(Cafe Delites)
• Cucumber Caprese Salad(Lemon Tree Dwelling)
• Caprese Grilled Fish(Two Healthy Kitchens)
• Caprese Dip(Closet Cooking)
• Asparagus Caprese Salad(Aberdeen’s Kitchen)