easy caprese salads
This recipe is a guideline for two types of Easy Caprese Salads. The amounts given are not written in stone, they are a guideline, you have control over how you want to make them... and how much you want to make! My grandchildren love helping make the cherry tomato ones, so easy for them and fun! You can go casual for a potluck, or fancy for a wedding reception! Or go fancy for a meal at home...xo Play With Your Food! xo
prep time
1 Hr 40 Min
cook time
method
No-Cook or Other
yield
1 - 200
Ingredients
- TOMATOES YOU CAN USE
- 3 quarts cherry, grape or pear tomatoes
- 6 - 18 medium tomatoes, firm vine ripened
- CHEESES YOU CAN USE
- 1 -3 pound mozzarella cheese
- 1 - 2 large fresh mozzarella
- 3 - 6 packages fresh mozzarella balls (small size)
- BASIL
- 1 - 3 bunches fresh basil
- DRESSINGS YOU CAN USE
- 1 - 3 pints balsamic vinegar reduction, home made or store bought
- 1 -3 pint italian dressing, home made or store bought
- SKEWERS YOU CAN USE
- 50 - 100 large skewers
- 1 - 2 boxes toothpicks or party toothpicks
- 100 - plastic spoons, clear
How To Make easy caprese salads
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Step 1Wash and pat dry the cherry tomatoes. You can leave them whole or cut them in half.
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Step 2Wash, pat dry vine ripened tomatoes. Slice each tomato 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Place on a platter or serving dish. Cut up as many tomatoes as you want put in one layer or make two or three layers deep. Just make sure you put a dressing drizzled over each layer.
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Step 3Rinse and pat dry the basil. Pull off whole leaves from the stems, the prettiest leaves are what you want to use for the cherry tomato skewers, toothpicks or clear plastic forks. For the sliced vine ripened tomato recipe, you can leave the leaves whole, cut them in half, slice into strips or mince according to your liking. *** Keep in mind that the more you break up or cut the basil... the more possible damage you do to the leaves, which can make them "get old looking" fast!
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Step 4If you choose a more aged mozzarella, then cut it into appropriate size cubes.
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Step 5Fresh mozzarella balls can be used with either the cherry tomatoes or the sliced vine ripened tomatoes.. Use them whole, cut in half, sliced or broken up into pieces according to which salad you are making and the "look" you are going for.
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Step 6The large chunk of mozzarella can be sliced, cubed or broken into little pieces according to your desired results.
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Step 7To assemble the cherry tomato skewers: Using a toothpick: Put half of a cherry tomato on the toothpick, add a piece of fresh mozzarella (cut in squares or use small round balls of cheese). add a basil leaf. add the other half of the cherry tomato. Repeat until you have the amount you need.
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Step 8For each layer of the sliced tomatoes: Put sliced tomatoes on platter, add mozzarella, add basil. Drizzle with desired dressing. In the photo, it was Italian dressing.
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Step 9Italian dressing. Can be used as a drizzle, or a dip.
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Step 10Balsamic Vinegar Reduction. Can be used as a drizzle or a dip.
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Step 11This salad was made for a potluck and it went fast!
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Step 12This salad was made by my nephew's bride for their wedding reception. This was a beautiful presentation and a big hit!
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Step 13My latest version! I love making and eating them!
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
Discover More
Culture:
Italian
Category:
Cheese Appetizers
Tag:
#Quick & Easy
Tag:
#Healthy
Keyword:
#cheese
Keyword:
#Fun
Keyword:
#Tomato
Keyword:
#salads
Keyword:
#Basil
Keyword:
#pretty
Ingredient:
Vegetable
Method:
No-Cook or Other
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