Caprese Salad Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant Italian bowl with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic-glazed crispy bread.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables & Herbs

01 - 14 oz ripe heirloom or cherry tomatoes, sliced or halved
02 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves

→ Dairy

03 - 8.8 oz fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini or sliced)

→ Bread

04 - 4 slices rustic bread (ciabatta or sourdough)

→ Dressing

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To:

01 - Toast bread slices until golden and crispy. Cut into bite-sized cubes or tear into rustic chunks.
02 - Arrange tomatoes and mozzarella in a large bowl or on a platter, alternating slices for visual appeal.
03 - Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella pieces.
04 - Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar evenly over the salad.
05 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Scatter crispy bread pieces on top just before serving to maintain crunch.
07 - Serve immediately and enjoy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like Italy without leaving your kitchen, and honestly, it tastes even better when you use genuinely good tomatoes and creamy mozzarella.
  • The whole thing comes together in 10 minutes, which means you can impress people without stressing—or make it on a random Tuesday when you need something light and satisfying.
  • Crispy bread mixed with juicy tomatoes and cool cheese feels like an actual meal, not just a side dish pretending to be important.
02 -
  • Room temperature tomatoes taste infinitely better than cold ones—take them out of the fridge at least an hour before you start, and you'll notice the difference immediately.
  • The bread goes soft quickly once it touches the dressing, so adding it at the last possible moment is the only way to protect that textural contrast you're after.
03 -
  • Take your tomatoes out of the fridge an hour before you want to eat; cold tomatoes have no flavor, and room temperature changes everything about how this dish tastes.
  • Buy mozzarella from a real cheese counter if you can find one—the texture and flavor difference between fresh mozzarella and the vacuum-packed version is genuinely night and day.
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