Articlelunch#Caprese Salad

Classic Caprese Salad (10-Minute Recipe)

Ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil layered simply and finished with good olive oil — a ten-minute salad where the ingredients do all the work.

July 20, 2026435 words · 2 min read

lunchstovetopitalianappetizer

Prep

10 min

Total

10 min

Servings

There's not much between you and this salad except good ingredients — ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, layered simply and finished with olive oil and a crack of pepper. It comes together in ten minutes with no cooking at all, which means the quality of the tomatoes and cheese really matters here. A drizzle of balsamic glaze at the end adds a sweet-tangy note that ties the whole plate together.

A simple layered salad of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, finished with olive oil.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Fast: ready in about 10 minutes (10 min prep, ? min cook)
Simple: 6 everyday ingredients
Feeds the family: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 ripe tomatoes (preferably heirloom or vine-ripened)
1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese (about 8 ounces)
Fresh basil leaves
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic glaze (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Wash the tomatoes and basil, pat them dry, then slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into quarter-inch thick slices.
Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices alternately on a serving platter, overlapping slightly, and tuck basil leaves between them.
Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes and mozzarella, then sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze if you like, for a sweet and tangy contrast.
Serve immediately as a refreshing appetizer or side.

Cooking Tips

Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella to a similar thickness so they layer evenly.
Use good-quality olive oil, since it's one of the few flavors carrying the whole dish.
Assemble just before serving so the tomatoes don't release too much liquid onto the plate.