Fresh mozzarella and tomato salad – a simple salad of creamy mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. This Caprese salad recipe is an easy side dish to make that’s a summer favorite.

Sometimes simple is better. This fresh mozzarella and tomato salad is a perfect example. Take two ingredients, toss them in a simple but flavorful dressing, add lots of fresh basil leaves and you’ve got something absolutely delicious.

Fresh, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese and crisp, juicy cherry tomatoes are a perfect summer combination. Drizzle a white balsamic vinegar dressing over the fresh ingredients and toss with lots of fresh basil and you have a great, simple salad that is ready to eat in no time at all.

Key Ingredients to make this salad:

Ripe cherry tomatoes – I used a mix of red and gold cherry tomatoes.
Fresh mozzarella cheese – I used little round mozzarella balls but you can chop up fresh mozzarella into the roughly the same size as the sliced cherry tomatoes.
Fresh basil leaves – roughly sliced into long strips.
Balsamic vinaigrette – easy to make! I used white balsamic but regular balsamic works as well.

Easy Steps to Make this Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Salad:

Prep all your ingredients – slice up the cherry tomatoes, slice up the fresh basil and whisk together all the dressing ingredients.

Add fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil and dressing to a large bowl. Gently toss all the ingredients together and you’re ready to serve.

Tips and questions about this recipe

What type of balsamic vinegar should I use? I used white balsamic vinegar. If you use regular balsamic vinegar it will tint the salad (the fresh mozzarella in particular) a reddish/brown color since regular balsamic vinegar is a much darker color than white balsamic vinegar. You could also drizzle the salad with a tablespoon or two of balsamic glaze if you have some.
Can I make this salad a day ahead of time? I would not recommend making this salad a day ahead of time – it will lose it’s freshness if stored in the fridge. A tomato mozzarella salad is so quick and easy to make there really is no reason to make it ahead of time.
What type of mozzarella should I use? Fresh mozzarella should be used in this dish. Fresh mozzarella is soft and creamy. Do not use regular mozzarella – it’s too hard.
What type of tomatoes should I use? Summer cherry omatoes are a key ingredient in this dish. If you’re not growing them this season then check your local farmer’s market or vegetable stand for ripe, juicy cherry tomatoes.
What else can I add to this recipe? You want to keep this salad simple, but you could add a little sliced red onion if you’re a fan of red onions.

Nutritional information is generated from an online nutritional calculator. This information is provided as a courtesy only and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Ingredients can vary and Green Valley Kitchen makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

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