Insalata Caprese
Ripe tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil — summer on a plate.
Ingredients
- 2 Tomato
- 200 g Mozzarella
- 10 leaves Basil
- 2 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
Method
- Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into 1 cm rounds.
- Layer tomato and mozzarella in overlapping circles on a plate, tucking basil leaves between.
- Drizzle with olive oil and scatter with salt and a few grinds of pepper. Serve at once.
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About Insalata Caprese
Insalata caprese is the classic salad of Capri and the Campania coast, and it's less a recipe than an exercise in ingredients. Ripe tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil are layered and dressed with nothing more than good olive oil, salt, and pepper; its colors of red, white, and green mirror the Italian flag, which is part of the dish's identity. Because there is so little to it, everything hinges on the components: a genuinely ripe summer tomato, mozzarella at its freshest, and fragrant basil. Assembled in under ten minutes, it's the definition of a dish that rewards restraint over technique.
On the plate and the palate it's cool, juicy, and clean, the sweet acidity of the tomato playing against the milky softness of the mozzarella, with basil lending its peppery perfume and the olive oil tying it together. It belongs to summer, served as a light lunch, an antipasto, or a side to grilled fish or a glass of chilled white. The version here keeps faith with tradition by doing almost nothing, layering the rounds, tucking in basil, and dressing simply at the last moment so the tomato doesn't weep and the salad stays vivid. Serving it at once, at room temperature, is the small discipline that keeps it at its best.
Insalata Caprese: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Insalata Caprese?
A serving has about 450 calories — 23.2g protein, 7.5g carbs, 36.5g fat, 1.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Insalata Caprese gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Insalata Caprese has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Insalata Caprese dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Mozzarella. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How many servings does Insalata Caprese make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.