Pesto Caprese Salad is the delicious and easy salad you need in your life! In just minutes and with a handful of ingredients, you can make a seriously impressive salad.
This simple but flavour-packed side dish combines sweet cherry/grape tomatoes with fresh mozzarella balls and basil pesto to make a gorgeous pesto caprese salad in minutes with minimal effort.
It's also the perfect salad if you are looking for something to please any lettuce haters out there!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this salad
- simple to make
- tonnes of flavour from only a few ingredients
- classic Caprese taste
What you need to make this pesto caprese salad
*Please see the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients with exact quantities and detailed instructions
- grape/cherry tomatoes
- bocconcini - small bite-sized balls of fresh mozzarella cheese - I used Bambini bocconcini
- basil pesto
- olive oil
- fresh basil leaves
- salt
- balsamic glaze - balsamic reduction
*Please see the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients with exact quantities and detailed instructions
How to make pesto caprese salad
- Combine basil pesto and olive oil then set aside.
- Add tomatoes, bocconcini, sliced basil and salt to a large bowl.
- Add pesto sauce and mix to combine.
- Tip onto your serving platter, then drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve.
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Top tips for the best result
- Can't find Bambini bocconcini? You could use a bigger size of mozzarella balls such as cherry bocconcini and halve them or chop up one large ball. They are all the same kind of cheese, they just vary in size.
- Drain the little mozzarella balls well so they don't water down your pesto dressing.
Variations
- swap out the grape tomatoes for a mixture of miniature coloured/heirloom tomatoes
- sprinkle in some toasted pine nuts for added texture
Storage
This salad is best served fresh.
However, you can prepare each of the components ahead of time (except for slicing the basil - do this just prior to serving), and combine them to serve.
This recipe is not suitable for freezing.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Chicken Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes - chicken breast roasted with cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and garlic.
Best Ever Chicken Sandwiches - using shredded chicken leftovers these sandwiches have celery and walnuts for crunch plus lemon and Dijon mustard for added flavour.
Pesto Pasta Salad - an easy pasta salad with traditional caprese flavours.
📖 Recipe
Pesto Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 400 g grape tomatoes halved
- 220 g Bambini bocconcini well drained (see my notes)
- 1 tablespoon basil pesto
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (firmly packed) thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon cooking salt
- 1 - 2 teaspoon balsamic glaze for drizzling
Watch me make this recipe
Instructions
- Add basil pesto and olive oil to a small bowl, mix well to combine then set aside.1 tablespoon basil pesto1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add tomatoes, bocconcini, sliced basil and salt to a large bowl.400 g grape tomatoes220 g Bambini bocconcini¼ cup fresh basil leaves (firmly packed)¼ teaspoon cooking salt
- Add pesto dressing and mix to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to your serving platter, drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve immediately.1 - 2 teaspoon balsamic glaze
Notes
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- Drain the bocconcini well so they don't water down your pesto dressing.
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