If it’s one thing I look forward to in the warm summer months, it’s caprese salads! What’s not to love? Ripe juicy tomatoes of all different varieties and sizes, dreamy creamy cheese, fragrant garden basil and the best olive oil you can buy to finish it all off.
There’s so many variations of caprese salads this is just the tip of the iceberg, I could go on and on but this post would be extremely long!
Here’s a few of my favorites, some made for parties, get togethers, an appetizer, a lunch, even as an entree with good crusty bread is just enough on a hot summer day.
Mixing the colored green heirlooms with vine ripened red tomatoes makes for a pretty colorful looking platter, break open some burrata, add a drizzle of balsamic glaze, your best olive oil and whole leaves of basil.
I have this huge round platter and I always make this for parties, and you know what? None is ever leftover, everyone is crazy about caprese!
Use different colored heirlooms, not only for flavor but for a nice visual combination as well.
Stack your caprese salads for individual sides or appetizers, this one was also layered with freshly made basil pesto.
Roast some tomatoes, tear open a ball of creamy burrata and grab some bread, this is lunch for me!
Pass out these crostini to your guests and they will go bonkers, they’re crispy, creamy and dreamy topped with slow roasted tomatoes.
Fresh mozzarella or creamy burrata, it’s all good!
Sometimes I might add some avocado into the mix, why not!
Here it is in all it’s glory, just sweet and simple.
Fun to bring to a party, layers of bocconcini, sliced cherry tomatoes all in a row on top of a bed of spinach and arugula, dress it when you get to the party.
Can we talk about this for a minute? If you can find fresh, hand tied, homemade bocconcini like I can, don’t hesitate to buy a big container so you can make this caprese salad, one of my favorites! The flavors are out of this world!
Sometimes I’ll add in some olives, why not?
I’m in love with those pretty colored heirlooms.
No words needed…
Throw a caprese salad on top of nicely grilled eggplant, a wonderful appetizer to munch on.
Look close, there’s a caprese salad in that stack of vegetables, lunch anyone?
Switch up your tomatoes for citrus sometimes, it’s bright and unexpected and especially good in the winter months.
Have you ever had a mango caprese? This one is layered with avocado and mint instead of basil, topped off with chopped pistachios, quite delicious and unique!
And finally, peaches are now in season, so grill some up, add a little prosciutto and enjoy this as your next caprese salad, it’s a meal in itself.
I could go on and on but these are some of my favorites, enjoy the best of summer eating with simple and delicious caprese salads!
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