Strawberry Caprese Salad Recipe
Swooning over this slightly sweet Strawberry Caprese Salad that was the perfect compliment to our turkey burgers last week!
Strawberries have been front and center in the grocery store leading up to valentine’s day looking bright and juicy and basically irresistible 🍓
I love a sweet and savory situation so I combined them with plump cherry tomatoes, fresh bite-sized mozzarella and chopped basil, drizzling it all with rich balsamic vinegar!
Strawberry Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz. package strawberries stemmed and quartered
- ½ pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 8 oz. ciliegine mozzarella balls halved
- 2 tbs. basil leaves in ribbons
- good quality balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp. salt
Instructions
- Start by combining strawberries, mozzarella balls, basil and salt. place into refrigerator for 10-30 minutes to let flavors combine. When ready to serve, drizzle on balsamic vinegar and toss to combine!
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Caprese Salad
- Sweet summer strawberries + creamy fresh mozzarella is a combination that just works
- Ready in 5 minutes flat — no cooking, no stress
- Stunning enough for a dinner party, easy enough for a Tuesday lunch
- The balsamic glaze pulls everything together into something that tastes way more special than the effort required
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh strawberries — ripe and sweet; hulled and sliced
- Fresh mozzarella — the good kind, in water; sliced or torn into rounds
- Fresh basil — whole leaves or gently torn; don’t chop or it will bruise
- Extra virgin olive oil — a good quality oil makes a noticeable difference here
- Balsamic glaze — store-bought works perfectly; look for one with a thick, syrupy consistency
- Flaky sea salt + black pepper — the finishing touch that makes everything pop
Tips for the Best Strawberry Caprese
- Use the best strawberries you can find — in-season, deeply red strawberries are sweeter and more flavorful; this salad lives and dies by its ingredients
- Don’t skip the flaky salt — it draws out the juices and heightens both the sweet and savory notes
- Dress right before serving — the strawberries release juice quickly once dressed; assemble and drizzle just before you eat
- Chill the mozzarella — cold mozzarella holds its shape better and contrasts beautifully with the room-temperature strawberries
Variations to Try
- Add burrata — the creamiest, most luxurious upgrade possible; pull it apart over the top
- Peach caprese — swap strawberries for sliced ripe peaches for a late-summer version
- Add prosciutto — a few thin slices draped over the top make this a light appetizer or starter
- Arugula base — lay everything on a bed of peppery arugula for a more substantial salad
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make strawberry caprese salad ahead?
You can prep the components ahead — slice the strawberries and mozzarella and store separately. Assemble and dress right before serving to prevent the strawberries from becoming too juicy and the mozzarella from getting watery.
What’s the difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze?
Balsamic glaze (also called balsamic reduction) is balsamic vinegar that’s been simmered down until thick and syrupy. It’s sweeter and clings to the salad better than regular balsamic vinegar. Either works here, but the glaze gives the prettiest presentation.
