Get your taste buds ready for an exciting adventure with this Simple Vegan Caprese Salad! An Italian Classic veganized! This is a perfect appetizer or light meal to share at BBQs and picnics during Spring, with a fresh taste.
The savory-sweet take on vegan caprese salad combines juicy tomatoes, and vegan mozzarella that have been doused in some balsamic vinegar glaze - it doesn't get much better than this.
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Even though it's summer, food should be comforting rather than hot. A caprese salad is a classic Italian dish made by alternating layers of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for an incredibly light yet full flavor that you can't go wrong eating!
And let me tell you, it is really easy to make your own plant based tomato mozzarella salad, even one that is whole food plant based friendly.
I love making my own vegan Mozzarella or buying store bought brands if they're available where I live since this will save time during prep-time, but either way Caprese always hit the spot when eaten.
When I was growing up, caprese salad was a staple at our dinner table. The flavors of tangy tomatoes and fresh basil were always on hand to enjoy with friends during summer barbecues or just as an appetizer before dinner time rolled around! Nowadays, you can find this dish in restaurants all over town - but there's nothing like home-made versions made right here in home'.
Salad Ingredients
Are you curious what you will need for this easy vegan appetizer? A quick list of the ingredients we will use.
- Fresh Tomatoes
- Vegan Mozzarella
- Tomato Mozzarella Seasoning
- Balsamic Glaze
- Fresh Basil Leaves
Substituitions
Let us see what you can adjust to get still an amazing Italian salad.
- Tomatoes: Make sure you use ripe tomatoes. Those have the most flavor and are juicy. You can either use cherry tomatoes or Roma tomatoes. Big red tomatoes work best to get beautiful tomato slices.
- Mozzarella: You can make your own Mozzarella. I have a vegan Mozzarella Recipe or buy a vegan white mozzarella. You could even use fresh mozzarella if you are not vegan. 🙂 You can also use creamy avocado!
- Tomato Mozzarella Seasoning: I love to make my own Caprese Salad Seasoning. If you do not want to use it, you can also use some fresh grinding of black pepper and sea salt.
- Balsamic Glaze: You can either use store bought balsamic glaze. What, you could also use a balsamic reduction. Just let it simmer for a bit. You can also use a simple balsamic vinaigrette or balsamic vinegar.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: Use a handful of basil leaves. I love the taste of fresh fragrant basil plant.
- Oil free: I do not use any oil for this recipe. If you want to use some. Just use a drizzle of good olive oil.
Variations
I love to make different variations of my favorite summer salads.
- You can either make a plant based caprese pasta salad recipe. Just add some cooked pasta to it and add some balsamic vinaigrette.
- You can also add, instead of vegan mozzarella, some avocado and mangos to make a unique twist for hot summer nights.
- Top with some baby arugula.
Instructions
It is pretty simple to make. You can also watch my step-to-step video.
Slice your tomatoes and mozzarella. Add some color with different tomatoes.
On an attractive serving platter lay alternately one slice of mozzarella and one slice of tomatoes until the platter is full. Sprinkle some of my tomato-mozzarella-seasoning over it. This step is optional.
Drip some balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze on the tomatoes and garnish with some fresh basil leaves.
Meal Prep
You can easily prepare this in advance. Just sprinkle the balsamic glaze before serving over it.
Equipment
To make this tomato-mozzarella-salad, you will need a cutting board, nice looking platter, knife.
Serving Suggestions
You can either serve this healthy salad as a main meal with some fresh baked bread like these:
You can also serve it as a side dish or as a great appetizer.
Some delicious meals you can enjoy with it:
Storage
This is pretty easy to store, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for about 4 days. I prefer to eat the fresh prepared salad, but you can also prep it in advance. As I mentioned it above.
Top Tips
Cut the slices half centimeter thick slices. Add different seasoning to your Caprese Salad to make it your own twist.
You can either use a homemade vegan Mozzarella or buy like the Miyoko's Creamery. I've got a pretty amazing recipe for fresh mozzarella. My kids and we are obsessed with it.
📖 Recipe
Vegan Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Fresh Tomatoes
- half recipe of Vegan Fresh Mozzarella
- ½ teaspoon Caprese Salad Seasoning
- 2 tablespoon Balsamic Reduction
- Fresh Basil Leaves for Garnish
Instructions
- Begin by carefully selecting your tomatoes, opting for a mix of colors to add visual appeal to the salad. Wash and pat dry.
- Slice your tomatoes and vegan mozzarella into even slices, aiming for consistency in thickness to ensure each bite is as delightful as the next.
- On a large, attractive serving platter, arrange the slices in an alternating pattern, starting with a slice of vegan mozzarella followed by a slice of tomato. Continue this pattern until the platter is beautifully covered.
- (Optional) For an added burst of flavor, lightly sprinkle your homemade tomato-mozzarella seasoning over the arranged slices. This step infuses the salad with a unique depth of flavor that complements the freshness of the ingredients.
- Delicately drizzle balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze over the tomatoes. The acidity and sweetness of the balsamic will balance the creamy texture of the mozzarella, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
- Garnish the salad with fresh basil leaves, torn or whole, depending on your preference. The basil not only adds a pop of color but also introduces an aromatic freshness that is synonymous with a traditional Caprese salad.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the harmony of flavors and textures in this classic Italian dish, reimagined for a vegan palate.
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