This Caprese salad recipe stars ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Drizzled with balsamic and olive oil, it's a simple, perfect summer side dish.

Jeanine Donofrio

Phoebe Moore

Updated May 18, 2026

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This Caprese salad recipe combines juicy, ripe tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and fragrant basil leaves. I finish it simply with drizzles of olive oil, a balsamic reduction, and plenty of flaky salt and pepper. During the summer, when tomatoes are at their peak, I make this classic recipe at least once a week. It’s so simple, yet so delicious.

Caprese salad has been near and dear to my heart ever since we visited the Italian island of Capri, years ago, just after Jack proposed. It was a magical trip where we ate Caprese salad every day while questioning how a dish with such simple ingredients could possibly taste so amazing.

Over the years, I’ve shared Caprese-inspired recipes like my Caprese skewers, Caprese pasta salad, and Caprese sandwich, but this classic version is the one I make most. It’s a recipe you hardly need a recipe for, but keep reading for my tips to make the best(!) Caprese salad, along with a few fun variations.

Caprese Salad Ingredients

A great Caprese salad starts with great ingredients. This recipe is meant for summertime, when fresh tomatoes are at their juiciest, sweetest, and most flavorful. I like to stop by the farmers market and collect as many colorful heirloom tomatoes as I can. Not only are they beautiful, but each type tastes a little bit different, and it’s fun to showcase them in this simple salad. Cherry tomatoes are fair game here too!

In addition to peak-season tomatoes, you need these simple ingredients:

Fresh mozzarella cheese. Look for soft, spongy mozzarella balls that are packed in water.
Basil. Only fresh leaves here! Dot them over the tomatoes and mozzarella whole, or gently tear larger leaves before adding them to the salad.
Extra-virgin olive oil. It’s worth finding good-quality, 100% extra-virgin olive oil to use in this recipe, because you can really taste it. Extra-virgin olive oil has a strong, fruity flavor that’s a great finishing touch for the juicy slices of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. I don’t recommend using another oil in its place.
Balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction. It’s totally optional, but it adds sweet and tangy depth to this simple salad. Use a good-quality vinegar or store-bought balsamic glaze. If your vinegar is very thin, you can reduce it yourself using this balsamic reduction recipe.
Freshly ground black pepper. If you don’t already have a pepper grinder, now’s the time to get one. Grind it straight over the salad for the best flavor!
Sea salt. I like to sprinkle the salad with generous pinches of flaky sea salt, such as Maldon sea salt. Regular sea salt will work too, but skip the iodized stuff. It has a slightly bitter taste that can stick out in such a simple dish.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Caprese Salad

To make the salad, start by slicing the tomatoes and mozzarella. I like to use a sharp serrated knife for this. Gently cutting them in a sawing motion, like you would bread, helps the tomatoes and cheese slice cleanly without getting squished.

Layer the tomatoes and mozzarella on a platter, tucking the basil leaves between them and sprinkling more on top.

Finish the salad with drizzles of olive oil, balsamic, and flaky salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

While it’s hard to beat a traditional Caprese salad in tomato season, sometimes it’s fun to change things up. Here are a few of my favorite ways to do it:

Make it fruity. Replace half the tomatoes with peaches or strawberries. See this strawberry salad recipe for an example!
Change the cheese. Use torn burrata instead of the mozzarella.
Add avocado, or use avocado in place of the cheese if you’re vegan.
Experiment with the herbs. Try a combination of fresh basil and mint, or finish the salad with generous dollops of basil pesto.
Add some crunch. Top the salad with a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts.

How do you like your Caprese salad? Let me know in the comments!

More Summer Salads to Try

If you love this Caprese salad recipe, try one of these favorite summer salads next:

Caprese Salad Recipe

rate this recipe:

4.94 from 31 votes

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Serves 4 to 6

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This classic Caprese salad recipe combines ripe tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, and plenty of fresh basil. This simple salad relies on good ingredients, so use the best tomatoes you can find!

Ingredients

3 to 4 medium heirloom tomatoes, sliced
1 (8-ounce) ball fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
Fresh basil leaves
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction, for drizzling (optional)
Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Arrange the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil leaves on a platter. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic, if using.
Season to taste with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.