This Classic Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze is Perfect for Sharing!
Home » COOK » Recipes » Recipes By Course » Salads »This Classic Caprese Salad with balsamic glaze will transport your mind and senses effortlessly to a gorgeous Italian eatery in Rome! The simple, fresh ingredients of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil combine to create this timeless and delicious sharing dish.
This salad would be perfect for springtime and I’ve got a collection of Easter Recipes you might like to try. Right-click and open them in a new tab to read next.

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Classic Caprese Salad
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions, to ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required and understand the steps and timings involved.
It’s hard to beat the classic flavor combination of fresh tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese, and basil, and if you’re looking for a light and tasty salad to share with your friends, look no further than the classic Caprese salad.
The balsamic glaze adds a touch of sophistication to this otherwise simple salad, which not only tastes great but looks so pretty on the plate.
This Italian dish is easy to make and is always a hit with diners. So why not give it a try? Your guests will be impressed!

Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
While most components can be bought in grocery stores, for your convenience, any specialized or notable ingredients and equipment needed for this recipe have been linked to Amazon or other stores if available online.
It may not include staple ingredients such as oil, salt, sugar, etc., as you’re likely to have those in your kitchen. The complete list of ingredients with measurements is found in the recipe card.
- Fresh Produce – Large Tomatoes, Basil
- Dairy – Mozzarella
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Good-Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog use both cup measurements and/or weighted measurements. American cups and kitchen food scales are handy pieces of equipment to have in your kitchen as it means you’ll be able to make all of the different recipes on my blog. I try to give American, imperial, and metric measurements in my recipes. Please note, you can mix cup measurements with weighted measurements, but never mix imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.,) with metric (kilograms, grams, litres, etc.,).

More Recipes Using Mozzarella
One of the hero ingredients in this dish is mozzarella, so here are some more recipes using the same:
- Roasted Artichoke Mozzarella Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Balsamic Mozzarella Stuffed Grape Tomatoes
- The Absolute Best Five-Cheese Lasagna Recipe
More Italian Recipes
Looking for more Italian dishes to make? Check these recipes out next:
- One-Pot Chunky Italian Meat Sauce Recipe
- Colorful & Creamy Italian Risotto Primavera Recipe
- 15-Minute Grilled Marinated Asparagus with Italian Gremolata
More Appetizers
- Cucumber Smoked Salmon Appetizers Ready in Just 20 Minutes!
- Gluten-Free Baked Avocado Fries with Homemade Garlic Dipping Sauce
- Pistachio and Raisin Goat Cheese Log Appetizer For Holiday Entertaining

Recipe Tips
- The balsamic glaze will cling to the back of a spoon when it is ready.
How Do I Make Classic Caprese Salad?
Check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. Any demonstration photos do not print out to save your ink.

Classic Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients
- 4 large tomatoes sliced ¼-inch thick
- 12 oz 340g fresh Mozzarella (one large ball), sliced ¼-inch thick
- 1 large bunch fresh basil
- 1 cup of balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp high-quality extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add a slice of tomato to four salad plates. Top each slice of tomato with a slice of fresh Mozzarella and a basil leaf. Repeat this pattern until you’ve added 1 tomato and approximately 3 oz (85g) of Mozzarella to each plate. Finish each arrangement with a tomato slice on top. Set aside.
- To make the balsamic glaze, heat one cup of balsamic vinegar over medium-high heat until it begins to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced to about 1/3 of its original volume, stirring continually. When the liquid becomes thick and syrupy, it is ready to use.
- Remove from heat and cool slightly. Drizzle the olive oil on top of each salad, followed by the warm balsamic glaze. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and garnish with additional sprigs of fresh basil, if desired, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Special Dinner!
You’ve made the starter/appetizer/salad, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a special meal or dinner party:
- Soup: Italian Meatball Soup Recipe
- Main Dish: One-Pan Chicken Cacciatore – Italian Hunter’s Stew
- Side Dish: Italian Roasted Vegetables Recipe
- Beverage: Refreshing Blackberry Iced Tea
- Dessert: Lemon and Fig Olive Oil Cakes with Mascarpone & Vanilla-Fig Jam
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too.