Caprese salad

Capers are a type of flower bud that is often used as a seasoning or a garnish. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used in cooking for centuries. The most common way to use capers is to pickle them in vinegar.

The word "caprese" comes from the Italian word for "goat." This is most likely because the salad was originally made with goat cheese. However, many modern recipes call for mozzarella cheese, which is more commonly available.

The traditional way to make a Caprese salad is to alternate slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and ripe tomatoes, then top with fresh basil leaves and olive oil. Some recipes also call for balsamic vinegar.

Advice

Caprese salad is a delicious and healthy dish that is also easy to make. To make a great caprese salad, start by using the freshest ingredients available. Choose ripe, in-season tomatoes and good-quality mozzarella cheese. Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into thick slices, and then stack them on top of each other. To add flavor, drizzle the salad with some extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle it with salt, pepper, and fresh basil. Finally, to finish the salad off, add a few balsamic glaze to the top. Enjoy!

Questions

What does Caprese mean in a salad?

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made of slices of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil, seasoned with salt and olive oil. It is sometimes called Insalata Caprese, meaning "salad of Capri".

How are you supposed to eat Caprese salad?

Caprese salad is typically served as an appetizer or side dish. To eat it, simply layer the tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella slices on a plate and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. You can also add a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Enjoy!

Is eating Caprese salad healthy?

Yes, Caprese salad can be a healthy choice. It typically contains fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, all of which are nutritious ingredients. However, depending on what type of mozzarella cheese you use and what kind of dressing you put on the salad, it may not be as healthy as it could be. Opt for a light vinaigrette or use a low-fat mozzarella to keep the calories and fat content low.

What goes with a Caprese salad?

A Caprese salad typically consists of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, usually seasoned with salt and olive oil. Common accompaniments for a Caprese salad include toasted bread, a light vinaigrette, grilled vegetables, cured meats, and a glass of white wine.

What tomatoes are best for Caprese?

The best tomatoes for Caprese are vine-ripened tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes. These tomatoes are firm, juicy and have a sweet flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients in the dish.

How do you cut tomatoes for Caprese salad?

To cut tomatoes for a Caprese salad, you should slice the tomatoes into rounds that are about 1/4 inch thick. You can also cut the tomatoes into wedges or cubes, if desired.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Melon Caprese Salad

  • basil
  • pine nut
  • white balsamic vinegar
  • basil
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • mint
  • honey
  • balls burrata cheese
  • melon ball
  • prosciutto
  • lemon juice
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Caprese Salad

  • basil
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • mozzarella cheese
  • balsamic vinegar
  • tomato
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Caprese Salad

  • ball mozzarella
  • tomato
  • avocado
  • pesto dollop
  • balsamic vinegar
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • basil
  • mint
  • peach
  • strawberry
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Caprese Salad

  • salt
  • basil
  • cherry tomato
  • ripened tomato
  • olive oil
  • balls buffalo mozzarella
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Avocado Caprese Salad

  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • avocado
  • arugula
  • campari
  • mozzarella cheese
  • basil
  • sugar
  • salt
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Chopped Caprese Salad

  • salt
  • red wine vinegar
  • garlic
  • basil
  • kalamata olife
  • grape tomato
  • olive oil
  • romaine heart
  • mozzarella cheese
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Caprese Salad

  • white wine vinegar
  • garlic
  • basil
  • dijon mustard
  • salt
  • oregano
  • bocconcini
  • olive oil
  • cherry
  • balsamic glaze reduction
  • black pepper
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Charred Caprese Salad

  • salt
  • italian seasoning
  • olive oil
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • garlic
  • basil
  • log uncut mozzarella
  • balsamic glaze
  • tomato
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Caprese Salad

  • black pepper
  • mozzarella cheese
  • ripened tomato
  • basil
  • olive oil
  • salt
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Caprese Salad

  • basil
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • goodquality balsamic vinegar
  • burrata cheese
  • tomato
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Caprese Salad Recipe

  • olive oil
  • fleur de sel
  • tomato
  • mozzarella cheese
  • Coarse sea salt, such as Maldon or fleur de sel
  • ground black pepper
  • basil
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Farro Caprese Salad

  • balsamic vinegar
  • farro
  • basil
  • arugula
  • tomato
  • salt
  • honey
  • water
  • mozzarella cheese
  • black pepper
  • olive oil
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Caprese Salad

  • pepper
  • salt
  • garlic
  • tomato
  • balsamic vinegar
  • basil
  • light brown sugar
  • olive oil
  • mozzarella cheese
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Caprese Salad

  • black pepper
  • mozzarella cheese
  • ripened tomato
  • basil
  • olive oil
  • salt
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Caprese Salad

  • mozzarella cheese
  • olive oil
  • tomato
  • balsamic glaze
  • salt
  • basil
  • pepper
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Caprese Salad

  • basil
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • mozzarella cheese
  • balsamic vinegar
  • tomato
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Peach Caprese Salad

  • balsamic vinegar
  • tomato
  • peach
  • basil
  • salt
  • pepper
  • leaf lettuce
  • olive oil
  • buffalo mozzarella cheese

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
basil
olive oil
tomato
mozzarella cheese
black pepper
balsamic vinegar
garlic
cherry tomato
balsamic glaze
avocado
arugula
peach
white balsamic vinegar
honey
mint
mozzarella ball
prosciutto
ripened tomato
pepper
cherry
lemon juice
burrata cheese ball
ball mozzarella
sugar
grape tomato
water
navy bean
ciliegine
loaf baguette
cantaloupe
pine nut
balls burrata cheese
melon ball
pesto dollop
strawberry
balls buffalo mozzarella
campari
garlicbasil oil
balls burrata
green mango
amber agave nectar
cumin
fresno chile
apple cider vinegar
cilantro
quarter coins ginger
ripened red tomato
herbed cheese spread
purple potato
red wine vinegar
kalamata olife
romaine heart
white wine vinegar
dijon mustard
oregano
bocconcini
balsamic glaze reduction
fig
italian seasoning
log uncut mozzarella
milk mozzarella curd
ball mozzarella cheese
artichoke heart
green olife
all purpose flour
goodquality balsamic vinegar
burrata cheese
brown sugar
ground black pepper
fleur de sel
farro
balsamic honey vinegar
light brown sugar
quinoa
leaf lettuce
buffalo mozzarella cheese
burrata ball
plum tomato
english cucumber
pasta

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • olive oil 93%
  • salt 93%
  • basil 90%

Common Ingredients

  • tomato 59%
  • mozzarella cheese 54%

Usual Ingredients

  • black pepper 39%
  • balsamic vinegar 27%

Rarey Ingredients

  • garlic 17%
  • balsamic glaze 12%
  • cherry tomato 12%