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Avocado Caprese Salad

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This Avocado Caprese Salad is a perfect summer recipe. It's easy to make, highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients, and is full of flavor!

Since this salad is so simple, it's essential to have peak summer tomatoes that are ripe and bursting with summer-sunshine flavor. You'll combine the tomatoes with creamy avocado and fresh mozzarella for a delicious salad!

Avocado caprese salad in a large white bowl with serving spoons.

What is a Caprese Salad?

A traditional Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad - made from mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.

When the mozzarella is salted and topped with balsamic it sort of melts in with the tomatoes and basil making for a flavorful salad.


Why You'll Love this Caprese Salad with Avocado

This recipe is not only easy to assemble but it's the perfect summer side dish! It's bursting with fresh flavors and juicy tomatoes.

The addition of avocado takes it over the top - it adds a creamy and bright component that takes the classic Caprese salad to a whole new level. The tangy balsamic glaze is also an essential addition to this salad - it's balsamic vinegar that's been reduced so it packs a real flavor punch!

This recipe saves well in the refrigerator and is even better the next day, as it allows more time for the tomatoes and mozzarella to marinate in the flavors.

Ingredients for an avocado caprese salad.

Ingredients You'll Need

Tomatoes - You'll need 2 medium tomatoes - these can be Heirloom, Roma, Hot House (any type of ripe tomato will work) as well as 12 ounces of cherry tomatoes (I used a mix of colorful cherry and grape tomatoes).

Cheese - You'll use 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella cheese balls (I used Ciliegine). You can use one large mozzarella ball and cut it into slices or chunks as well.

Avocado - You'll need 1 large ripe avocado (I used a Haas avocado)*

Herbs - You'll need 10 to 15 fresh basil leaves. You can tear these, roughly chop them, or chiffonade them.

Toppings - To top the salad, you'll need 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of balsamic glaze (balsamic reduction), ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.

*When you're checking for ripe avocados, don't squish them (this will cause bruising), pop the stem at the top off - if it's yellow or green, the avocado is ready to eat!

Slicing tomatoes on a cutting board.
Steps for making caprese salad with avocado.

How to Make a Caprese Avocado Salad

  • To prepare your ingredients - slice the medium tomatoes, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the avocado and chop the basil.
  • Arrange tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and avocado on a large plate or large bowl. 
  • Drizzle with the olive oil, balsamic reduction, flaky sea salt, and ground black pepper.
  • Garnish with the chopped fresh basil.
  • Allow the salad to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the tomatoes, cheese, and avocado to marinate in the oil, balsamic, and salt.
A closeup shot of an avocado caprese salad.

More Delicious Summer Salads

If you love fresh summer produce, be sure to check out our full list of summer salads. Here are some of our all-time favorites:

An overhead shot of an avocado caprese salad.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Links on some posts are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Specialty Ingredients - You'll need a balsamic glaze for this recipe (that's different than regular balsamic vinegar). A balsamic glaze may also be called a balsamic reduction, you should be able to find it in any major grocery store.

Storing Tips - You can store this salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It's actually even better after a day in the refrigerator - it allows the flavors to really come together!

Alternative Additions - If you want to make this recipe more of a meal, you can grill a few chicken breasts, cut them into strips, and add them to this salad.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Avocado Caprese Salad

An avocado Caprese salad in a large white serving bowl with serving spoon and fork.

This delicious, fresh avocado Caprese salad recipe is a summer stunner! It's full of flavor, bursting with colorful ingredients, and is easy to make!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 medium tomatoes (heirloom or hothouse), sliced
  • 12 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls (Ciliegine or other)
  • 1 medium avocado, sliced
  • 10 to 15 fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
  • ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Arrange the tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and avocado on a large plate or bowl. 
  2. Drizzle with olive oil, balsamic reduction, flaky sea salt, and ground black pepper.
  3. Garnish with the chopped fresh basil.
  4. Allow the salad to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the tomatoes, cheese, and avocado to marinate in the oil, balsamic, and salt.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 325Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 567mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 5gSugar: 9gProtein: 13g

Amy

Monday 20th of June 2016

This looks amazing and soooo perfect for the 100 degree forecasts we have for this week. I found you through a post on FBP where you mentioned your income report and love seeing how you have progressed through your first 6 months (is that right?). I just started my blog (like a week ago) and am still setting so much up that I probably shouldn't even have taken it public but I was itching to start posting content, you know? Anyway, just wanted to say hi and let you know I will probably be lurking because your food looks gorgeous and I'm going to be doing a lot of the same things (photo sharing submissions, etc.) that it looks like you have been doing. :)

Emily Wilson

Thursday 7th of July 2016

Thanks, Amy! I love your Instagram page and I've pinned several of your recipes! You've got great stuff. I'm so glad you liked the income reports :) I found the income reports on other blogs so helpful, and I really like when they share how they are growing traffic.

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