20 Caprese Salad Recipes to Serve All Summer Long (2024)

food

By Taryn Pire

•

Published May 16, 2023

Come summer, we want to dive face-first into a fresh caprese salad as often as humanly possible. While we have nothing against the timelessly delicious combo of tomato, mozzarella cheese and basil, we urge you to give one of these unconventional caprese salad recipes a try this year. These twists feature unique ingredients that bring the O.G. to a whole new level.

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1. Tomato-Peach Caprese Skewers

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, no cook

Since you're already planning to pile pounds of farmers market peaches into your tote bag, put them to good use with this simple salad. The balsamic glaze drizzle is optional...but we wouldn't skip it.

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Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly

This savory "salad" is as summery as it gets, considering peaches, tomatoes and corn make an appearance. Once you've mixed the simple corn fritter batter, you're more than halfway there.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. Grilled Caprese Skewers with Halloumi and Sourdough

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <10 ingredients

Any salad that features bread as a main ingredient is one we're eager to devour. The skewer components (including tangy halloumi in place of mozz) are brushed with garlic-infused olive oil before hitting the grill.

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Amy Neunsinger/Magnolia Table

4. Joanna Gaines’s Peach Caprese Salad

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

Our favorite shiplap expert also whips up a damn good appetizer. The key here is drizzling all the salad's components in white balsamic vinaigrette. (Go ahead and add some crushed red pepper flakes while you're at it.)

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Caprese Salad with Grilled Zucchini

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

So much summer produce, so little time. Plate the usual caprese suspects atop grilled slabs of zucchini (eggplant or yellow summer squash would work too).

Get the recipe

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...

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20 Caprese Salad Recipes to Serve All Summer Long (2024)

FAQs

How long does Caprese salad last in the fridge? ›

To Make Ahead: This easy Caprese salad is definitely best served fresh but it can stay in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you need to make it ahead of time, slice the mozzarella and tomatoes and store them separately in the refrigerator.

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Which tomato is best for caprese? ›

As long as it's good and ripe, you can use just about any type of fresh tomato to make Caprese salad. Heirloom tomatoes make a really gorgeous salad, but any slicing tomato is delicious here. If you use smaller tomatoes, like cherry or grape tomatoes, just halve 'em.

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What do you serve with Caprese salad? ›

What to serve with Caprese Salad? The best dishes to serve with Caprese Salad are grilled meat, garlic bread, pasta, or a charcuterie board.

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What is a good substitute for tomatoes in a Caprese salad? ›

Sweet peppers like red, orange and yellow bells stand in for tomatoes in this caprese-style salad and pair deliciously with the fresh mozzarella and acidic balsamic drizzle. Try green bell peppers if you prefer less sweetness. This easy, healthy recipe takes just 20 minutes to make.

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How many days does mozzarella last in the fridge? ›

With proper storage in a refrigerator, mozzarella cheese can last for up to one to two weeks. In a freezer, mozzarella cheese can last longer, up to approximately three months. If you find any change of shape, color, taste, and aroma of any part of the cheese, cut and throw away that part.

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How healthy is a caprese salad? ›

Health Benefits of Caprese Salad:

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects against cancer and heart disease. Mozzarella cheese is a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Basil leaves contain essential oils that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

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What kind of mozzarella is used in caprese? ›

Ovolini mozzarella is just one size down from your standard large ball, perfect for when you're making a caprese for just one or two people. It can be made with buffalo milk, cow's milk, or a combination, but inside the states, it will be made with 100 percent cow's milk.

Why is Caprese salad so good? ›

Everyone loves this colorful combination and it's easy to see why in its artful balance of flavors: creamy, milky mozzarella takes on the tomato's acidity and the sweetly herbaceous basil, where the extra virgin olive oil adds a mild fruitiness that brings it all together. It's like they were made for each other!

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What is a fun fact about the Caprese salad? ›

The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos."

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What is a substitute for balsamic vinegar in caprese salad? ›

Some people swear by a mixture of soy sauce and grape jelly—or you may try tinkering with a blend of soy sauce, lemon juice, and molasses. Again, these substitutes can be used in the same amounts as balsamic vinegar in recipes. Just taste as you go to assess the flavor of your substitute.

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What cut of tomato is best for salad? ›

Tomato wedges are ideal for salads of all kinds — tomato salads, green salads, or for just eating drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt. The goal for cutting tomatoes into wedges is to keep the tomatoes' seed jelly intact once cut.