Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

Name: Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 pint cherry tomatoes; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella balls; 20 to 30 leaves fresh basil

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Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes is a simple salad of tomatoes and mozzarella, yet it packs a punch of flavor. It is the perfect summer salad because of its fantastic taste and how effortless it is to make!

Juicy sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil are drizzled with a mouth-watering balsamic glaze. And it is ready in 10 minutes! It is easy to see why this is such a crowd-pleasing side dish!

top view of caprese salad with cherry tomatoes on a plate.

Not only is this salad recipe easy and delicious, but it also looks fantastic on your table. The colors of the tomatoes contrast with the white mozzarella and green leaves to mimic the colors of the Italian flag.

So whether you’re looking for a side dish to take to a picnic or cookout, or a refreshing and easy-to-make meal, this salad is a fabulous choice. So give this recipe a try and treat yourself and your family to a delicious and easy cherry tomato caprese salad.

Try air fryer chicken caprese, air fryer roasted tomatoes or quick pickled green tomatoes for more delicious tomato flavor.

🍅Simple Ingredients

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

Cherry tomatoes
Balsamic vinegar
Honey
Fresh mozzarella cheese – I like to use mozzarella pearls because they look great and save time. But you can slice a block of fresh mozzarella.
Fresh basil leaves
Salt

ingredients for caprese salad with cherry tomatoes.

🥣How to Make Caprese Salad

Slice Tomatoes – Slice the cherry tomatoes into halves or quarters, depending on their size. Make sure the tomato pieces are bite size. Once they’re sliced, place them on a platter and give them a sprinkle of salt to bring out their natural sweetness.
Dice Mozzarella – If you aren’t using pre-made mozzarella balls, dice the cheese into bite-size pieces.
Make Balsamic Glaze – Whisk the balsamic vinegar and honey in a bowl.
Assemble the Caprese Salad – Scatter the cheese balls among the tomatoes. Sprinkle basil leaves on top. Then drizzle the balsamic glaze.

making balsamic glaze. — Make balsamic glaze

adding the mozzarella balls. — Add mozzarella balls

drizzling with balsamic glaze. — Drizzle with glaze

🍴Serving Ideas

Since this is an Italian salad, serving it with some Italian main dishes makes sense. It is delicious with Italian Mushroom Stew, Chicken Parmesan, or Baked Manicotti. Add some crusty bread to complete the meal.

And, in the summer, when fresh tomatoes are abundant, I like to take this Italian tomato salad as a side salad for a picnic or cookout. It is the ideal side dish to go along with potato salad or coleslaw since it adds a splash of color and sweet flavor to your plate.

💭How to Store

This Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes will keep for about 2 hours at room temperature or 1 day in the fridge. If you are storing it, keep it in an airtight container. The basil will wilt quickly and not look as fresh as it sits.

caprese salad with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella pearls.

⭐Tips and Variations

Be sure to check out the step by step instructions

Use small basil leaves or cut the larger leaves into strips.
Drizzle with a bit of extra virgin olive oil along with the balsamic glaze to add even more Mediterranean flavor.
Cutting the tomatoes in half and salting them brings out their sweetness, making this an extra delicious salad. Use kosher salt or coarse sea salt for a great look.
Try different colors of ripe cherry tomatoes for a gorgeous salad. A variety of tomatoes, including orange, yellow, or heirloom tomatoes, are fabulous combined with the white mozzarella.

📝FAQ

What are mozzarella pearls?

Mozzarella pearls, also called bocconcini, are tiny mozzarella balls that you can find in the deli or specialty cheese section of many grocery stores. They are fun to use in this cherry tomato caprese salad recipe because their size and shape mimic the cherry tomatoes.

Should Caprese salad be served at room temperature or cold?

Serve Caprese salad at room temperature since that is where tomatoes taste best. But it only lasts about 2 hours at room temperature and should be refrigerated afterward.

Should I use grape or cherry tomatoes in Caprese salad?

Fresh cherry tomatoes usually have a sweeter flavor and are juicier. However, they also don’t keep as well as grape tomatoes. Either works well in this Caprese salad recipe.

Can you leave the cherry tomatoes whole?

Cherry tomatoes are too big to leave whole. Grape tomatoes could be sliced or left whole, although cutting them does let them absorb more of the flavor of the balsamic glaze.

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5 from 6 votes