You know what summer looks like? A lovely, delicious plate of refreshing strawberry caprese salad. It’s quick, simple, and a beautiful dish offering multiple health benefits.
Let’s talk about the health benefits of strawberry caprese salad
If you know me, you know that I’m an herbal and wellness junkie, and look for ways to implement them into the food I feed myself and my family. I mean, WHY NOT? It’s the easiest way to keep everyone feeling rejuvenated, balanced and operating at their best level.
This strawberry caprese salad may help with the following:
- Antioxidant support from strawberries and basil.
- There are multiple types of basil from which you can choose to add to your caprese salad, each offering subtly different flavors and actions. One of my favorites is holy basil, for its balancing properties and helping to relieve stress and anxiety.
- Balsamic vinegar can aid in digestion and promote optimal gut flora since it contains acetic acid, which is a strain of probiotic.
- Olive oil is a great anti-inflammatory, which can help with a large variety of health issues where inflammation is a result.
- Mozzarella cheese is full of calcium and protein, keeping you full and building strong muscle.
What you need to make strawberry caprese salad
Just six simple ingredients! Here they are:
- Strawberries (you can also add in tomatoes for a more robust flavor in your salad, but sometimes I’m not in the mood for them)
- Basil (it needs to be fresh!)
- Mozzarella pearls (I like to buy mine either at Trader Joe’s or Costco for best quality and price)
- Olive oil (get the good stuff!)
- Balsamic vinegar (ditto to what I just said above!)
- Salt and pepper to taste (try pink Himalayan salt if you’re feely FAWNCY)
How to make strawberry caprese salad, step by step
Step 1: Cut strawberries and basil. Place in a bowl or platter. Add in mozzarella balls
Step 2: Drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. Serve immediately while fresh!
Top tips for making this salad
- To prevent basil from browning, slice with a sharp knife in ribbons and serve immediately
- This salad is best served fresh. To cut time, meal prep by cutting strawberries ahead of time.
- Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar as desired
- This makes a great salad on its own or a party appetizer. Serve it on a platter all combined, or individually arrange them on wooden skews. Either way, you will get an equally beautiful and yummy appetizer.
More fresh salad and appetizer recipes you might like
If you try this banana overnight oats recipe, please let me know how you like it in the comments below. I absolutely love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, for more nourishing recipes like this, and behind the scenes cooking and holistic wellness tips!
Refreshing Strawberry Caprese Salad (Gluten-Free + Vegetarian)
Ingredients
- 1 pint strawberries hulled and quartered
- 8-10 mozzarella pearls
- 6-7 fresh basil leaves chopped (or you can leave them whole if you prefer)
- 2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add strawberries, mozzarella, and basil to a platter or bowl.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately while fresh, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- To prevent basil from browning, slice with a sharp knife in ribbons and serve immediately
- This salad is best served fresh. To cut time, meal prep by cutting strawberries ahead of time.
- Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar as desired
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