This elevated caprese salad is sure to be the best one you’ve ever tried. It is not your average caprese dish and you will see why! This is a fabulous twist on my favorite summer staple for a fresh and savory bite!
Using juicy, ripe tomatoes and fresh garlic and basil, there is no doubt that this is the ultimate summertime dish.
What is Caprese Salad?
Caprese salad is an Italian salad dish, simply made by layering mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, salt, and usually balsamic vinegar. Caprese salad has always been a staple in my home during the summer when tomatoes are fresh, juicy, and bright.
What makes this caprese salad “elevated”?
I like to call this an “elevated” caprese salad because we are doing a bit more than simply layering the ingredients together.
We’re marinating the tomatoes and using fresh garlic as a flavor enhancer.
Additionally, we are using burrata instead of classic mozzarella (which would also taste amazing by the way).
I finish off with a balsamic glaze instead of a simple drizzle of balsamic vinegar. The sweetness of the glaze beautifully compliments the acidity of the vinegar from the marinade as well as the zesty flavor of the fresh, raw garlic.
How to get the best results with this recipe
While this salad is super simple, there are some tips to consider in order to get the best results.
- Use fresh tomatoes that are IN SEASON. While most people can easily get their hands on tomatoes year round, making this salad with fresh, juicy tomatoes makes the most substantial difference. Tomatoes are the foundation of this recipe, so the fresher and redder the tomatoes, the better it will turn out.
- Marinate for at least 1 hour. A huge part of this recipe is marinating the tomatoes in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic. Marinating for at least 1 hour will give the deepest flavor here.
- Use high quality olive oil. The bold taste of olive oil really helps the caprese salad shine. For this reason, a high quality one is crucial. Try to find extra virgin olive oil where the olives it is made from are sourced from one location. An oil stored in a glass bottle to prevent plastic interference of the taste and freshness is what I prefer as well.
- Use fresh basil. In keeping with our “fresh summer dish” theme here, make sure the basil is fresh as well. Just no dried basil. Your tastebuds will thank you.
- Flakey sea salt to top it off! There is something about a really flakey sea salt to finish off this salad right.
Why you must try this elevated caprese salad recipe
This recipe is a must-try! Whether you are an experienced caprese enjoyer or you are just beginning to dabble in this wonder of a dish, you are sure to enjoy it. Trust me, there are way too many underwhelming caprese salads served at restaurants. After making this caprese, you will never want to order one when you go out again! Your standards for this dish will instantly rise, and you will now know what to bring to the summer parties to impress your friends and family!
What you will need for this recipe
INGREDIENTS
- Ripe tomatoes
- Burrata or mozzarella cheese
- fresh basil leaves
- balsamic vinegar
- extra virgin olive oil
- fresh minced garlic
- balsamic glaze
- salt & pepper
How to make caprese salad
In its simplest form, making caprese salad is made by layering mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, oil and balsamic. We will be doing much more with our caprese salad. Even with the extra steps, this dish is still incredible simple!
STEP 1: Cut the tomatoes into fairly thick slices. You do not want them to be much thinner than the cheese. Mince your garlic too.
STEP 2: Add tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and minced garlic to a dish or freezer bag to marinate. (the freezer bag can be more useful, as you won’t need to flip the tomatoes). Let this marinate for 1-3 hours at room temperature. If using a dish to marinate, flip the tomatoes occasionally to get even coverage of everything.
STEP 3: Prepare burrata or mozzarella and basil by slicing however fits the tomatoes.
STEP 4: Assemble. Top with chopped basil, balsamic glaze, and coarse sea salt. Enjoy!
Elevated Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe tomato thickly sliced
- 2-3 mini burrata balls
- 3 fresh basil leaves sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- balsamic glaze
- black pepper & coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Slice your tomatoes into thick slices. You want them to be slightly thicker than your cheese layers. Mince garlic cloves.
- Add tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, balsamic, salt, and pepper to a dish or freezer bag. Let this marinate for 1-3 hours at room temperature.
- Once marinating is finished, layer tomatoes with cheese.
- Top with chopped fresh basil, balsamic glaze, and coarse sea salt. Serve and enjoy!
