What can you do with lots of cherry tomatoes? Make this cherry tomato salad of course!
I absolutely ADORE this salad.
It's so simple to make and it's a super fun take on my all time favorite salad: the Caprese salad!
Just like the classic recipe, this cherry tomato version of a Caprese salad uses lots of cherry tomatoes and is complemented by soft, rich, chunks of mozzarella cheese and fresh, aromatic basil.
The whole salad is then tossed in a simple balsamic vinegar dressing for an extra sweet and tangy finish. It's such a simple dish with a ton of flavor!
It's the perfect dish to complement your summer and use up some garden veggies!
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How To Make Cherry Tomato Salad With Mozzarella
Makes 4 small servings
Ingredients you'll need:
- 10oz (1 dry pint) of cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
- ¾ cup of mozzarella "pearls" or a ball of mozzarella diced slightly smaller than the tomatoes
- ¼ cup (packed) thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
- 1 garlic clove, minced fine
- ½ teaspoon of dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- 2 tablespoons of finely minced red onion
- ¼ cup of good extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
The balsamic dressing was slightly adapted from allrecipes.com
Assembling the cherry tomato salad
Slice the tomatoes in half (or quarters if large) and add to a medium sized mixing bowl.
Add the mozzarella pearls to the tomatoes and give a toss. Set aside.
In a small bowl or a mason jar, combine the minced garlic, mustard, honey, red onion, olive oil, and vinegar. Give a good whisk or a shake to combine and emulsify.
Dress the tomatoes and mozzarella with a couple of tablespoons of dressing and give it a taste. Add more dressing to your liking and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the sliced basil and gently give the salad a final toss.
Serve immediately, or even better--let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. The flavors really develop and heighten!
Do you cut cherry tomatoes for a salad?
I like to!
And especially if you start getting into the heirloom varieties of cherry tomatoes, they can get quite large.
I like cutting the tomatoes to make them more uniform, bite-sized, and to release their natural juices. The juices of the cherry tomatoes combined with the balsamic dressing really compliment each other well. The juices then soak into those tiny chunks of mozzarella--it's absolute perfection!
What’s the Difference between cherry and grape tomatoes?
Basically the shape!
A grape tomato is more oval and...grape shaped. And a cherry tomato is more round, like a cherry. Cherry tomatoes can be a little larger than a grape tomatoes too, so they might need to be cut in quarters to make them bite sized.
Variations:
There's no doubt you'll be making this cherry tomato salad on repeat this summer. So here are some fun variations that will help you use up that bumper crop of cherry tomatoes and never get tired of them!
- Replace the mozzarella with feta cheese
- Add in some chunks of goat cheese
- Add some cucumbers and greek olives to the mix
- Stir in some cooked tortellini or your favorite pasta for a refreshing mealtime salad
- Jazz up the dressing with some flavored balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
More Recipes You Might Like:
Summer Cobb Salad With Grilled Chicken
📖 Recipe
Summer Cherry Tomato Salad
The perfect summer salad featuring sweet cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and a tangy balsamic dressing.
Ingredients
- 10oz (1 dry pint) of cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
- ¾ cup of mozzarella "pearls" or a ball of mozzarella diced slightly smaller than the tomatoes
- ¼ cup (packed) thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
- 1 garlic clove, minced fine
- ½ teaspoon of dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- 2 tablespoons of finely minced red onion
- ¼ cup of good extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes in half (or quarters if large) and add to a medium sized mixing bowl.
- Add the mozzarella pearls to the tomatoes and give a toss. Set aside.
- In a small bowl or a mason jar, combine the minced garlic, mustard, honey, red onion, olive oil, and vinegar. Give a good whisk or a shake to combine and emulsify.
- Dress the tomatoes and mozzarella with a couple of tablespoons of dressing and give it a taste. Add more dressing to your liking and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the sliced basil and gently give the salad a final toss.
- Serve immediately, or even better--let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. The flavors really develop and heighten!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 253mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 7g
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