This Caprese Salad Recipe just got better thanks to creamy avocado and a delicious basil vinaigrette layered with juicy tomatoes and soft mozzarella.
Try this Balsamic Caprese Chicken or Caprese Pasta next!
author’s note
Caprese Salad Recipe Straight From Italy!
I’ve already shared a bit about our trip to Italy this spring, but what really stuck with me, besides the beautiful views, was how inspired I felt by the ingredients and food. We took a few cooking classes in different cities and learned how to make everything from homemade gelato to the most flavorful ragu. But my favorite class was in Siena.
It was held in the upstairs kitchen of a farmhouse owned by the most lively Italian nonna. She welcomed us like family and taught us how to make a handful of authentic Italian dishes, one of them being a Caprese salad, which inspired this very recipe.
Along the way, she shared the kind of tips you can only get from someone who has spent a lifetime in the kitchen and even ran her own restaurant.
Ingredients
- Fresh Veggies: Garden-fresh tomatoes and basil are the best if you have access to them. They add so much flavor!
- Mozzarella: This salad uses soft mozzarella pearls. If you have block mozzarella, cut it into pieces that match the size of the halved pearls, so everything is the same size when you eat it.
- Basil Dressing: The vinaigrette is a game changer on this salad, but if you’re in a pinch for time you can drizzle everything with olive oil or a balsamic reduction.
How To Make Caprese Salad Recipe
The full recipe is below but here are some tips while you make it.
- Make the dressing: Rip the basil instead of cutting—it brings out more flavor (a tip I picked up in Italy!).
- Prep the salad: Squeeze a little lemon juice on the avocado to stop it from browning.
- Mix the salad: Start with less dressing—you can always add more if you want.
Quick Tip
You can buy a balsamic glaze in the grocery store, or easily make your own. To make your own: whisk together 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar and 1/2 tablespoon honey in a small pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until thickened and reduced to about 2 tablespoons. This takes about 7-12 minutes.
More Delicious Salads:
Salads
Thai Quinoa Salad
Salads
Israeli Salad Recipe
Salads
Panzanella
Salads With Meat
Grilled Steak Salad Recipe
Caprese Salad Recipe with Basil Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
Dressing
- Add the garlic, shallot, and coarsely chopped basil to a small food processor. Pulse 6–8 times to chop the ingredients. Add the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Pulse a few times, and while running, drizzle in the olive oil and pulse until smooth. Avoid pulsing the mixture too much with the olive oil.
Salad
- Slice the tomatoes in half, then cut them into wedges and add to a large bowl. Halve the mozzarella pearls and add to the bowl. Tear the basil and add on top. Chop the avocado and add to the bowl, adding a squeeze of lemon to keep it from browning.
- Dress the salad with the basil dressing to taste. I like to add all the dressing, but you may want less (see note 2). Add salt and pepper. Enjoy the same day this salad is made; leftovers don’t keep well.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Caprese Salad Recipe Variation Ideas
- Swap out the tomatoes for fresh, ripe peaches. Combine with prosciutto and a balsamic reduction.
- Swap out the basil vinaigrette for a balsamic reduction instead (see “quick tip” below).
- Drizzle with a balsamic vinaigrette instead of the basil vinaigrette. A balsamic vinaigrette is much milder than a balsamic reduction. You can find the recipe for my favorite balsamic vinaigrette in this Caprese Quinoa Salad.
- Skip the dressings altogether and drizzle everything with good quality extra virgin olive oil instead.
This Caprese salad looks amazing! I can’t wait to try the basil dressing—sounds like the perfect touch to elevate the flavors. Thanks for sharing!
Can’t wait for you to try it! Thanks!
This looks delicious! In the ingredients list for the dressing, it says red wine vinegar, but in the instructions, it says balsamic vinegar…which is it? Thank you!
So sorry for the confusion, it’s red wine vinegar!
I had the opportunity to go to Italy this past July! Wish we could have spent more time there…so fun you were there this year too! 🙂
wow, what wonderful food art, have always loved the flavors in a good caprese too
That looks AMAZING! We have so much basil in our garden right now, I can’t wait to make this!