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Caprese Salad — serving inspiration
Illustrative serving idea.

Kitchen notes · a little help before you start

Caprese Salad

Caprese Salad brings together mozzarella, fresh basil, and tomato. Look through the first cooking step and have its ingredients ready before you begin. The quick notes will help you get the small jobs lined up before you start.

Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min
Original yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
8 listed

Make it part of your week

Estimating…
Recipe categories & planning details
Meal type
Main course
Cuisine
Italian
Preparation & total time
Quick dinners · Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
Budget (estimated)
Low cost
Dietary characteristics
Vegetarian
Dish type
Salads

A few quick notes

1. Set out the first ingredients

Look through the first cooking step and have its ingredients ready before you begin. It is easier to give the pan your attention when you are not still looking for the next item.

2. Leave room for the cooling step

The cooling step comes before another part of the finish. Set the food aside as the method directs and keep that pause in mind before cutting, coating or putting the final parts together.

3. Give the simmer its place

Keep the simmering stage in the sequence when planning the meal. Follow the heat and texture checks in that step rather than rushing straight to the finish.

Get to know the ingredients

Mozzarella

Look at how this ingredient comes into the method: Halve or quarter the tomatoes (depending on their size), pick the basil, and tear the mozzarella.

Fresh basil

Look at how this ingredient comes into the method: Halve or quarter the tomatoes (depending on their size), pick the basil, and tear the mozzarella.

Tomato

Look at how this ingredient comes into the method: Halve or quarter the tomatoes (depending on their size), pick the basil, and tear the mozzarella.

Let’s make it

Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.

MAKE IT YOURS

Ingredients

Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.

Estimating…

Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.

How to make it

0 of 6 steps complete

Make room for Caprese Salad

Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.

The last little job

Keep the last little job in mind

The recipe finishes with this step: Season with a crank or two of salt and pepper and enjoy! Set out what you need for that finish before the cooking gets busy.

A little more help as you go

Have the whisking step ready

Set out the ingredients for the whisking step together. Follow that part of the preparation before moving to the next cooking or mixing stage.

Remember the occasional stir

Keep the pan where you can return for the stirring step in the method. Use the stated heat and finish check while it warms or cooks.

A few questions you might have

What should I get ready before starting?

Set out the skillet. Read the first preparation step before you get going: Halve or quarter the tomatoes (depending on their size), pick the basil, and tear the mozzarella.

Which little step is worth remembering?

Look through the first cooking step and have its ingredients ready before you begin. It is easier to give the pan your attention when you are not still looking for the next item.

What happens at the end?

Keep this part of the method in view: Season with a crank or two of salt and pepper and enjoy!

Is there another preparation step to plan for?

Set out the ingredients for the whisking step together. Follow that part of the preparation before moving to the next cooking or mixing stage.

Storage & reheating safety

For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.

These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures

Recipe source: Budget Bytes. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.

Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.

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Open full-size card ↗Saved Caprese Salad recipe card; accessible ingredients and instructions are listed above.