Chopped Caprese Salad Recipe

Tomatoes are the base ingredient of pasta sauce, pizza, and salads. One stand-out tomato-based dish is the caprese salad, and you don't need to travel to Italy to experience this fresh Italian staple salad. Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this chopped caprese salad recipe, and says, "Traditional caprese salad is made by layering slices of tomato, mozzarella, and basil, and has a beautiful presentation. This chopped version is a little easier to eat (no knife needed), and a little quicker to throw together." 

Hahn goes on to say, "I love using tomatoes because they are full of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent certain cancers and chronic diseases. Lycopene is responsible for the rich red pigment in tomatoes and other red foods" (via Healthline). This caprese salad is perfect to serve with anything grilled, or a bowl of pasta. Read on to see how we make this fresh caprese salad.

Gather the ingredients for the caprese salad

The star ingredient in this salad is the tomatoes, so grab some grape or cherry tomatoes. "The nice thing about using grape tomatoes," Hahn says, "is they can be bought several days before you need them, and they remain firm as opposed to beefsteak tomatoes, which soften very quickly. Plus, there is less precision needed when cutting [them]." In addition, you will need some fresh basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and mozzarella balls. Since basil has a pretty short shelf life, Hahn tells us to remove it from its package, and put it in a jar of water on the counter, like a bouquet of flowers. It should last for up to 1 week when stored this way.

Prep the ingredients, and make the dressing

First, chop the tomatoes in half, lengthwise. "I like using a medium-sized serrated knife for this versus a large chef's knife. It makes cutting tomatoes a breeze," Hahn remarks. "For the basil, remove it from the stems, stack about 6 leaves together, and slice them into slivers. Or, you can roll the stack of leaves, and slice them that way."

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

Toss the salad, and serve

In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella balls. Then, pour in the dressing, and toss until combined. Your beautiful caprese salad is ready to serve. You can keep it chilled for a few hours before serving, but this isn't a salad you can make ahead of time. Like all dishes with fresh tomatoes, it is best eaten fresh. Enjoy your little taste of Italy!

Chopped Caprese Salad Recipe
5 from 52 ratings
Make this fresh chopped caprese salad recipe with grape tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil — perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time
10
minutes
Cook Time
0
minutes
Servings
4
Servings
salad in small bowls
Total time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
  • 4 cups grape tomatoes
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup mozzarella balls
Directions
  1. Cut the tomatoes in half. Pull the basil leaves off the stems, and cut into slivers.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
  3. In a medium bowl, add the tomatoes, basil, dressing, and mozzarella balls. Toss to combine. Chill, and serve the caprese salad.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving 239
Total Fat 20.1 g
Saturated Fat 5.6 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 22.1 mg
Total Carbohydrates 8.0 g
Dietary Fiber 1.9 g
Total Sugars 5.4 g
Sodium 420.6 mg
Protein 7.8 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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