Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad
on Jul 05, 2020, Updated Jan 18, 2025
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Simple, gorgeous, summer in a bowl.
If there is a combination of tomatoes and mozzarella I don’t like, I have yet to meet it. Caprese salad is the classic, and this is essentially the chopped salad version of Caprese.
Tomatoes and mozzarella…there has never been a combo of these two perfect foods that we haven’t wanted to dive headfirst into, especially during tomato season.
Table of Contents
I guess you could skip the olives if you are not an olive family, but that pop of salt adds something wonderful. Use any combo of halved pitted olives that you like, or pick a favorite olive and stick with that. You might also think of finishing this salad with a drizzle of Basil Oil for even more herbal flavor.
15-Minute Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Salad: Simple, gorgeous, summer in a bowl.
Substituting Cherry and Grape Tomatoes
In most recipes cherry and grape tomatoes are interchangeable, though there are some subtle differences. Cherry tomatoes can range in size from quite small to golf ball size. Grape tomatoes are usually smaller and less sweet than cherry tomatoes. Grape tomatoes are also meatier, with a thicker skin.
Cut the tomatoes in half for this salad or even in quarters if your cherry tomatoes are on the larger side. You could also use full-sized tomatoes, just cut them into 1-inch cubes. You can also cut this recipe in half; it makes a lot and serves 8, which might not be what you need.
Make Ahead Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
You can make this salad up to a few hours ahead and let it sit at room temperature. If you want to make it a day ahead, that’s fine, too, though in a perfect world, tomatoes never see the inside of a refrigerator, and you would have to refrigerate them overnight. Make sure to bring it to room temperature before serving, and if possible, slice and add the basil at the last minute.
What to Serve with Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad
For a pretty perfect simple summer meal, how about this paired up with Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad? I really could think of nothing better on a hot summer afternoon or evening. Or try it on the side of Grilled Chicken Breasts, a Chicken, Bacon, and Avocado Spread Sandwich, Grilled Salmon or maybe a grilled marinated strip steak? What DOESN’T this salad go with?
More Cherry and Grape Tomato Recipes
- Cavatappi with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto
- How to Make Perfect Roasted Tomatoes
- Tomato Bruschetta Couscous
- Tomato, Zucchini, and Bulgur Salad
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Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1 ½ cups halved pitted mixed olives
- 6 cups cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella (cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
- ½ cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the olives, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil and toss until the dressing coats all of the ingredients.
This was dinner tonight after a long, tedious drive home from the lake. Tomatoes a d basil from our garden, I doubled the dressing and tossed with a pound of pasta, wow!
Delicious! (added less basil and olives)