Type | Salad |
---|---|
Place of origin | Italy |
Region or state | Campania |
Main ingredients | mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, salt, olive oil |
Caprese salad (Italian: Insalata Caprese [insaˈlaːta kaˈpreːze], meaning "Salad of Capri") is a simple Italian salad, made of sliced fresh mozzarella (ideally Buffalo mozzarella), tomatoes, and green basil, seasoned with salt and olive oil. It is made to resemble the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green. In Italy, it is usually served as an antipasto (starter), not a contorno (side dish).
While Caprese salad is traditionally seasoned with olive oil and basil, there are variations seasoned with pesto and other sauces, like Italian dressing. Some variations substitute basil with rucola. In further variations other non-traditional ingredients, like chopped garlic, parsley, olives, or romaine lettuce, are also added. Many people also add ground black pepper.
A British variant - Mozzarella and tomato salad
Caprese salad skewer appetizers
Caprese Salad with mozzarella, Parmesan, pesto Genovese and oven-dried tomatoes