Caprese Tomatoes with Pesto and Mozzarella
An ideal appetizer for any occasion - made in minutes! Classic Caprese is ripe tomatoes, delicate cheese, and aromatic sauce. It’s a symbol of Italy, echoing the colors of its national flag.
Updated : 20 February, 2026
Easy
About 20 min.
Ingredients
1
Tomato
120 grams
Mozzarella
5 grams
Basil
2 tablespoon
Pesto sauce
2 tablespoon
Olive oil
1 grams
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How to make Caprese tomatoes with pesto and mozzarella? First, prepare the ingredients. The Caprese color palette matches the Italian flag - green, white, red - so it’s considered a culinary symbol of Italy. For this reason, basil in classic Caprese should be green. But you can experiment if you like.
Step 2
It’s best to use store-bought pesto; if possible, choose one made in Italy. Italian pesto tastes quite different from local versions. I’ve made pesto many times with the same ingredients, but the flavor still differs from the original.
Step 3
Wash and dry the tomatoes, then slice them into thin rounds. If the tomato is large, one is enough; if medium, you’ll need two.
Step 4
Remove the mozzarella from the brine, pat it dry, and slice into thin pieces. The larger the mozzarella ball, the better - it’s easier to slice. Mozzarella comes in two types: a slightly yellow, semi-firm one for pizza and a soft, white brined one. You need the soft brined mozzarella.
Step 5
Rinse the basil and pat dry. You can strip the leaves from the stems in advance. If a sprig has few leaves, use two sprigs.
Step 6
Arrange the tomatoes and mozzarella on a serving plate in overlapping layers, alternating them. Lightly salt the tomatoes and cheese. However, before salting, taste your pesto. Usually it’s moderately salty, but some jars contain extra salt. If your pesto is already salty, don’t add more salt to the salad.
Step 7
Scatter basil leaves on top. Spoon and spread the pesto over the salad.
Step 8
Drizzle with olive oil and serve. Enjoy!
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