Fresh Simple Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Basil
A refreshing and easy-to-make summer salad featuring ripe tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil, dressed with olive oil and optional balsamic vinegar.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes (preferably heirloom or vine-ripened)
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella (whole milk mozzarella preferred)
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed, torn by hand
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
- Sea salt, flaky, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry the tomatoes and basil, patting tomatoes dry to avoid diluting the salad.
- Slice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick rounds or wedges and arrange in a bowl or on a serving platter.
- Tear the mozzarella into bite-sized chunks and scatter evenly over the tomatoes.
- Tear the basil leaves by hand and sprinkle evenly over the salad.
- Drizzle 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (if using) gently over the salad.
- Season with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Gently toss the salad or leave it arranged for presentation.
- Let the salad sit for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to mingle before serving.
Notes
Use ripe but firm tomatoes to avoid a watery salad. Tear mozzarella and basil by hand to preserve texture and aroma. Drizzle oil and vinegar last to keep salad fresh. Serve shortly after assembly for best texture. Drain excess liquid if salad looks too wet before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup (200 gra
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 12
Keywords: tomato mozzarella salad, fresh basil salad, summer salad, easy salad recipe, Italian salad, fresh mozzarella, healthy salad