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Need an easy lunch or snack? This Caprese Salad Recipe fits the bill! It tastes gourmet, but it’s simple enough that even a novice chef can make it. Heavy meals have their place, but sometimes, you need something light. This salad features fresh mozzarella, crisp tomatoes, and fragrant basil.
I topped my Caprese salad with a balsamic olive-oil dressing that truly takes it to a new level. You’ll want to make this dish again and again!
2 Reasons to Enjoy 100% Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
When fueling your body, it’s essential to choose healthy fats! 100% extra-virgin olive oil is an excellent fat to include in your salads, roasted vegetables, and baked meats. Here are a few reasons to choose this fantastic oil.
To learn more about the many benefits of extra-virgin olive oil, check out the Flavor Your Life Campaign. This campaign is on a mission to educate North Americans about authentic extra-virgin olive oil from Europe. Through their campaign, you’ll learn about the history behind this oil, the tasty properties the oils contain, and even get some recipe inspiration!
1. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Has a High Smoking Point
Many healthy fats have low smoking points, making it difficult to cook! No one likes a smoke-filled kitchen. EVOO has a smoking point of 400°F, which means you can use it to cook AND bake. As someone who prefers less clutter, having one oil for everything is a total life-saver!
2. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Has Great Flavor
Olive oil has a great, unique flavor that meshes well with other ingredients. All olive oils aren’t created equal, though! High-quality olive oil undergoes a testing process that ensures it has the best flavor possible.
Lesser-quality olive oils can go rancid on the shelves, leaving them with a bitter taste. This is one area that it’s better to splurge in!
Caprese Salad Recipe Ingredients 101
Great tasting food doesn’t require a lot of complexity! This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a decadent, filling salad. Here’s what you need.
Tomatoes: What could be better than tomatoes and basil? I’m not too picky with the tomatoes I use. I’ve used hearty beefsteak tomatoes with success, as well as Roma variations. Experiment with whatever you have on hand!
Fresh Mozzarella: Creamy cheese adds bulk to this recipe and gives it a boost of protein. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making homemade mozzarella, but until I get a dairy cow, the store shelves will have to do!
I prefer using pre-sliced mozzarella in this recipe, but you can also use mozzarella pearls.
Fresh Basil Leaves: Basil is an amazing herb with many health benefits. It’s anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and some studies show that it may even help prevent certain types of cancer. You’ll notice I add a LOT of basil to this recipe!
It adds such wonderful flavor and gives your body a hefty dose of greens.
Olive Oil: I love topping my Caprese salad with a homemade dressing of sorts. Olive oil is a tasty base! Lately, I’ve been loving Le Stagioni d’ Italia Extra Virgin Olive Oil because it’s not super expensive but still high-quality. It also doesn’t contain any preservatives or additives and is gluten-free/vegan. To learn more about European Olive Oil, check out Flavor Your Life.
Balsamic Vinegar: This sweet vinegar pairs well with tomatoes and mozzarella. It isn’t as overpowering as plain vinegar, and it adds richness to the salad. I’m all about keeping my blood sugar balanced, so the fact that balsamic vinegar may slow those spikes is pretty appealing!
Mineral Salt: This lovely pink salt is one of my favorite pantry ingredients. I use a pinch of it in everything! I swapped my regular white table salt for a high mineral version and never looked back. Traditional table salt undergoes a strict harvesting process that leaves it white and void of minerals.
Mineral salt has those trace minerals intact, nourishing your adrenals and providing you with the nutrients you need to thrive! I love Trim Healthy Mama’s salt because it is cost-effective and tasty.
Herbes de Provence: This ingredient is the secret sauce to the, well, sauce. 🙂 I really like this blend of thyme, marjoram, and rosemary. It adds a savory touch to any recipe, and it’s like Italian seasoning on steroids. Seriously, get a jar. You’ll sprinkle it on everything.
How to Make This Caprese Salad Recipe
This recipe comes together in minutes. It’s a gorgeous dish that you can serve at parties, should the mood strike. This salad serves 2-4 people.
Caprese Salad Recipe: Keto, Trim Healthy Mama S, Gluten-Free
This Caprese salad recipe tastes gourmet, but it's simple enough that even a novice chef can make it. It's full of fresh ingredients!
Ingredients
- 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
- 1 (8-ounce) package of fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 10 fresh basil leaves
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon mineral salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon herbes de Provence
Instructions
1. Cut the tomatoes into 1-inch slices. I prefer to have a hearty slice, but you can always slice it thinner if you like! Then, take the basil leaves off the stems. Slice your mozzarella if it didn't come pre-sliced. Arrange the salad ingredients on a large plate.
2. Place the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbes de Provence in a small bowl. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad. Enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 300Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 344mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 3g
Step One: Chop the Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil
Slice the tomatoes into 1-inch slices. I prefer to have a hearty slice, but you can always slice it thinner if you like! Then, take the basil leaves off the stems. Slice your mozzarella if it didn’t come pre-sliced.
Arrange the salad ingredients on a large plate.
Step Two: Make the Dressing
Place the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbes de Provence in a small bowl. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
Step Three: Dress the Caprese Salad
Pour the dressing over the salad. Enjoy!
Things to Know About This Caprese Salad Recipe
- You can make this salad ahead of time, but wait to pour the dressing on until ready to serve. No one likes a soggy salad!
- If you don’t have herbes de Provence, you can use Italian seasoning.
- If you prefer, you can make a chopped salad by cutting the tomatoes and mozzarella into chunks. This is a little easier to eat!
- Are you dairy-free? Substitute mozzarella for dairy-free mozzarella-style cheese shreds. Sprinkle them over top of the tomatoes, basil, and dressing for the same flavor profile.
Want To Fill Your Plate With More Veggies? Check out these recipes!
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To learn more about the amazing benefits of European olive oil, check out Flavor Your Life! You’ll learn how each bottle gets assessed for quality, find some amazing new recipes, and get inside info about how to best cook with this ingredient.
This post was sponsored by Moms-Meet! I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions.
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