Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe (2024)

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A beautiful and delicious take on a traditional Caprese Salad, this Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe is a perfect side dish with steak, burgers, turkey legs, barbecue chicken, and more! Easy to make, this Cucumber Caprese Salad recipe is loaded with sweet, fresh vegetables. Try it today!

Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe

Hubby came up with this idea years ago using the bounty that came from our CSA. It is a simple recipe that is easy to put together. It is an awesome use of fresh vegetables, great any time of year!!

We make this all. the. time. I make it at least twice per week in the summer as we usually have a load of fresh cukes, fresh tomatoes, fresh oregano, and fresh basil growing in my garden. I just make certain I chop up the fresh basil fine and substitute it for the dry basil in the recipe.

We also make this fairly regularly in the winter as cucumbers are reasonably priced, and there is always some sort of tomato on sale. While I like cherry tomatoes best in this recipe, I will cut up beefsteak, hothouse, Roma, etc into small bite-sized pieces and use them – especially when on sale!

Tips for making Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe:

● Do not be afraid to change the quantities of anything. Like balsamic vinegar? Add more! Like cucumbers? Add more. This recipe is very forgiving and I play with the quantities and ratios constantly.

● Sometimes a dash of salt to taste once served really hits the spot. Hubby adds salt to his serving most of the time, which I seldom do. As always, it is a matter of taste.

● This past year I froze my harvested basil and used it over the winter and spring in out cucumber Caprese salads. I also substitute fresh basil in the summer.

● Hubby says to scrape a fork over the peeled cucumber to get out the bitterness. He learned this from his mother. While he’s never been completely convinced this is true, aesthetically it does look very nice.

● Have a big crowd? This recipe doubles and triples beautifully. Just be aware of your container size for mixing.

● This will keep well for a few days in the fridge. About day three the mozzarella starts to get really soft, so try not to let it go past them.

If you are looking for a great summer side dish you might want to try this old fashioned creamy cucumber salad or perhaps this bok choy and snow peas sauté!

Cucumber Caprese Salad Ingredients:

Ingredients:

● 2 TBSP Olive Oil
● 1 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
● 1 TBSP Dried Oregano
● 1 TBSP Dried Basil
● Dash Salt
● Dash Pepper
● 1 Cucumber Peeled, Skin Scraped w/Fork and Sliced Thin and Diced
● 1½ cups Cherry Tomatoes quartered
● 8oz Fresh Mozzarella
● ½ Large Red Onion Diced

Cucumber Caprese Salad Mise en Place:

● Small Bowl
● Medium Bowl
Peeler
Cutting Board
● Knife
Measuring Cup
Measuring Spoons

Cucumber Caprese Salad Directions:

● In a small bowl mix together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dried oregano, dried basil and a dash of salt and pepper; set aside.

Peel washed cucumber, scrap the skin with a fork up and down a few times. Slice thin and dice. Add to a medium sized bowl.

● Quarter washed cherry tomatoes. Add to the bowl with the cucumbers.

● Thinly slice and dice your red onion (if you do not like onion, feel free to omit it from the recipe). Add to bowl with cucumbers and tomatoes.

● Slice mozzarella into bite-sized pieces (or use pearl-sized mozzarella balls). Add to bowl with cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion.

● Pour marinade over vegetables and cheese; mix well.
● Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
● Makes 4 servings of Cucumber Caprese Salad

Cucumber Caprese Salad

Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe (8)

A beautiful and delicious take on a traditional Caprese Salad, this Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe is a perfect side dish with steak, burgers, turkey legs, barbecue chicken and more! Easy to make, this Cucumber Caprese Salad recipe is loaded with sweet, fresh vegetables. Try it today!

Prep Time10 minutes

Additional Time10 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 1 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 TBSP Dried Oregano
  • 1 TBSP Dried Basil
  • Dash Salt
  • Dash Pepper
  • 1 Cucumber Peeled, Skin Scraped w/Fork and Sliced Thin and Diced
  • 1½ cups Cherry Tomatoes quartered
  • 8oz Fresh Mozzarella
  • ½ Large Red Onion Diced

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl mix together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dried oregano, dried basil and a dash of salt and pepper; set aside.
  2. Peel washed cucumber, scrap the skin with a fork up and down a few times. Slice thin and dice. Add to a medium sized bowl.
  3. Quarter washed cherry tomatoes. Add to the bowl with the cucumbers.
  4. Thinly slice and dice your red onion (of you do not like onion, feel free to omit from the recipe). Add to bowl with cucumbers and tomatoes.
  5. Slice mozzarella into bite sized pieces (or use pearl sized mozzarella balls). Add to bowl with cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion.
  6. Pour marinade over vegetables and cheese; mix well.
  7. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 231Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 334mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 12g

First Published: May 13, 2013

Last Updated: May 17, 2020

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Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is caprese salad made of? ›

What is Caprese Salad? “Insalata Caprese” literally means “the salad of Capri” which is an Italian island. Caprese salad is typically made by layering slices of fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil, then seasoned to perfection, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sometimes a balsamic glaze.

How healthy is caprese salad? ›

Health Benefits of Caprese Salad:

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects against cancer and heart disease. Mozzarella cheese is a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Basil leaves contain essential oils that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Why is caprese salad so good? ›

Caprese is truly a magical and perfect combination of flavors, textures, and freshness: ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and some kind of drizzle of either olive oil or balsamic… or both. For this Caprese, I used a simple balsamic reduction, which results in a pretty presentation and gorgeous flavor.

Which tomatoes best for caprese? ›

When selecting tomatoes, choose fragrant ones that smell earthy at the stem end and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with wrinkled skins. You can also make a caprese with smaller tomato varieties, such as plum, roma, cherry, grape, or sungold.

What kind of mozzarella is used in caprese? ›

Bocconcini and ciliegine can be used interchangeably — try either thread on skewers with cherry tomatoes for a twist on Caprese.

What is a good substitute for mozzarella in caprese salad? ›

If you're going to cook and want a melted cheese vibe then Gruyere cheese, cheddar or Swiss cheese would be the best substitutes. But if you're using the fresh mozzarella balls in a Caprese salad with basil and tomatoes I'd go for a softer cheese like ricotta or goats cheese or even labneh (yogurt cheese balls).

How long does caprese salad last in fridge? ›

To Make Ahead: This easy Caprese salad is definitely best served fresh but it can stay in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you need to make it ahead of time, slice the mozzarella and tomatoes and store them separately in the refrigerator.

How are you supposed to eat caprese? ›

It stays fresher and it's really easy to use a fork to break your portion up into bite size pieces. Or just eat it with your hands! Another way to serve a Caprese style salad is to chop everything into bite-size pieces, toss with the olive oil and vinegar, and serve over a bed of lettuce or as a chilled pasta salad.

What is a fun fact about caprese salad? ›

The ingredients were not so much chosen for their taste, although they pair perfectly together, but because of patriotism. With green basil leaves, white tomatoes, and red tomatoes, caprese also serves as a tribute to the Italian flag. In fact, this isn't the only famous dish that uses the colors of the Italian flag.

What basil is best for caprese? ›

Genovese Basil

Also called sweet basil or sweet Genovese, this is the most common variety and what you'll find in those plastic packages at the supermarket. The oval-shaped leaves are about 2-3 inches long and have a strong aroma and peppery flavor. This is the classic choice for pesto, Caprese salad, and pizza.

Why is it called caprese? ›

The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos".

What to serve with a caprese salad? ›

What to serve with Caprese Salad? The best dishes to serve with Caprese Salad are grilled meat, garlic bread, pasta, or a charcuterie board.

Why is my caprese salad watery? ›

The temperature

Keep the mozzarella at room temperature – if you can help it, don't put it in the fridge. Dab the slices with paper towels to eliminate excess liquid.

Are Roma tomatoes good for salads? ›

Known in supermarkets primarily as Roma tomatoes, these big-sweet, big-acid tomatoes are known for their chewy flesh and low water content. Which makes them perfect for tomato sauce. These tomatoes also can be used for quick saute dishes or in fresh salads where you don't want excess moisture.

Why is it called a Caprese salad? ›

The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos".

Is balsamic glaze and balsamic reduction the same thing? ›

Balsamic glaze is also called a “balsamic reduction.” It is essentially a reduction of balsamic vinegar. Additional sweeteners like honey or sugar can be added. The balsamic vinegar is simmered in a saucepan until it has reduced down and thickened to a maple-syrup consistency.

What's the difference between burrata and caprese? ›

Burrata is a soft cheese ball with a creamy center, whereas caprese is a simple Italian salad that can be made with either burrata or fresh mozzarella. What is the difference between burrata and mozzarella? Burrata and mozzarella are both creamy, white, semi-soft Italian cheeses very similar in appearance.

References

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