If you love fresh tomatoes, then you'll want to give this cherry tomato caprese salad a try. This simple salad is based on the classic caprese salad, except this version uses cherry tomatoes. The Mediterranean flavors will have you hooked from the first bite. Delicious served with some crusty bread and best of all, it's ready in about 10 minutes.
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Looking for the perfect summer salad? Give this cherry tomato caprese salad a try. It's full of fresh ingredients and the vibrant flavors that will transport you to the Island of Capri!
This delicious salad is great any time of year, not just in the summer. Ripe cherry tomatoes are available year round at the grocery store, so you can capture the taste of summer in the cold winter months too.
I like this salad as a main course with a fresh loaf of sourdough bread. But it really shines as a side salad alongside some grilled chicken or this ribeye steak recipe.
The Italian word caprese means a salad of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil and that is exactly what this salad is.
Why this recipe works
- Delicious variation of the traditional caprese salad
- Perfect side dish
- Simple ingredients
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom of the post for precise amounts and printable recipe card.
Cherry Tomatoes - I love using cherry tomatoes in caprese salad because they are consistently ripe and sweet all year round. Grape tomatoes are very similar and make a good substitute. If you can get your hands on peak-season tomatoes, then by all means use those!
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese - I used small fresh mozzarella balls, also called bocconceli, or mozzarella pearls. It's important to use fresh cheese! This salad would not be the same with a block of part skim mozzarella. If you can't find small balls of cheese, it's okay to cut a large ball or log into cubes.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - A good quality extra-virgin olive oil is a pantry staple I use most everyday! It's perfect for light sautéing and making homemade dressings. Olive oil contains polyphenols, an antioxidant that's good for your heart, and may have other health benefits!
Fresh Basil leaves- Basil's slightly peppery flavor pairs really well with tomatoes. This salad will be best with fresh basil, but I have substituted with dried.
White Balsamic Vinegar - If you don’t have white balsamic vinegar, you can substitute this for regular balsamic vinegar. The white balsamic vinegar flavor is a little less sweet than balsamic vinegar and it has a clean aftertaste. It will also keep the dressing from turning brown (as balsamic does).
Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt. Kosher salt is good too.
Directions
Cut the cherry tomatoes in half then add them along with the mozzarella balls to a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Pour dressing over tomatoes and mozzarella, and top with basil leaves. Toss well to combine and enjoy immediately! Add a few more basil leaves as garnish.
I like to grind a little extra freshly ground black pepper and sprinkle a pinch of salt over the salad right before serving. It just looks great!
Recipe Tips
Use a variety of tomatoes. I was able to find yellow, orange, and red ones in different sizes. I like to halve and quarter the larger ones, and leave some of the smaller ones whole.
This dish is best served immediately, but will keep well for up to two hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
You may not need to use all the dressing. It will depend on how juicy your tomatoes are. I like to pour half over, toss and add more as necessary.
If you’d like to turn this recipe into a pasta salad, cook some short cut pasta. Drain and cool then add to tomato mixture.
FAQs
Cherry tomato, mozzarella, basil salad goes great as a side dish with a variety of main dishes. Some examples include fish, steak, chicken and some nice bread as well.
I like to use a variety of cherry tomatoes with different colors to make this salad beautiful as well as delicious. For larger sizes it’s good to halve or quarter them, and leave some of the smaller ones whole for a nice variety in the salad.
These are both types of semi-soft Italian cheese but there is a difference between the two. Fresh mozzarella is a stringy Italian cheese made from water buffalo or cows milk. While Burrata has an outer shell made of mozzarella and is then filled with stringy curd and cream. The inside of Burrata is softer than mozzarella and very creamy and delicious.
More Salad Recipes You'll Enjoy!
- Ham and Pea Salad (Ruby Tuesday Copycat)
- Asian Cabbage Crunch Salad
- Kale Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
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Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 2 10 oz. containers multi-colored or red cherry tomatoes; halved or a 16 oz. container
- 8 ounces small mozzarella balls bocconcini
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar can substitute with regular
- 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse ground sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup basil leaves leave small leaves whole, tear larger leaves
Instructions
- Add tomatoes and mozzarella balls to a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Pour olive oil mixture over tomatoes and mozzarella then top with basil leaves. Toss well to combine.
- Serve immediately.
JVMI
I make this frequently just as the recipe is written, using tri-colored tomatoes. It’s very good. I add the basil just as I’m putting the salad out so it stays bright green. Next time, I’ll add some grated garlic for a little zing.
Nikole Berg
Awesome tip, thank you so much for making this often and for leaving your kind feedback!
Tracy B.
I was looking for a last minute side to throw together for a pizza pool party. This recipe popped up and I'm so thankful it did. I did 2-12oz cherry tomato medley containers (sliced each tomato), doubled the cheese balls (plus sliced them in half), doubled the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper recipe and offered a balsamic glaze on the side for topping. To prepare ahead of time, I mixed the cheese and tomatoes; stored covered in the fridge. Then made the dressing but kept it separate until it was time to mix & serve. I put it in a bowl inside another bowl with ice since it’s so hot. It was a perfect summer side and a hit by all who enjoyed it! Thanks again!!
Nikole
Awesome tips- thank you so much for sharing them and I'm so happy to hear it was a hit at your pool party Tracy!
Debra
This is so easy and delicious! It was a perfect addition to our 4th of July get together. I just can’t stop eating it.
Denise
This is a Fave!!!
Nikole
Thank you for making my day Denise! It's my favorite too!
Beth Neels
I have a bunch of cherry tomatoes in the garden and this was a delicious use for some of them!
Chef Mireille
This is such a bright and beautiful salad. It's tomato season here at the farmer's markets and this is the perfect seasonal salad for right now.
Nikole
I'm obsessed with cherry tomato recipes right now, Michelle!
Lesli Schwartz
This simple salad is always the best! One of my fave go-to's in the summer (and beyond)!
Nikole
Mine too Lesli!
Brian Jones
This was delicious and simple, the dressing really makes it!
Nikole
Thanks Brian!
Rusty
Nikole
Thanks for the 5 star rating!