5 Ingredient Cucumber Caprese Salad

Zesty Cucumber Caprese is the ultimate summer or even year round side dish.

Made with just five ingredients, this 10 minute salad is packed with fresh summer flavors is crunchy, healthy, flavorful, and satisfying.

Why this recipe works

This is a simple recipe that is quick and easy to make. It is also full of fresh and healthy ingredients.

Here is what else you will like about this recipe.

• The balsamic vinaigrette perfectly balances out the creamy, mild fat of the mozzarella pearls while the sliced cucumber offers a nice crunch.
• This salad can be prepared in advance and refrigerated.
• While this salad is perfect for summer (and showing off a garden bounty!), cucumber caprese salad can be served year round.
• Fresh caprese salad can be served as a side dish or as a meal in itself.

Have you tried my recipe for Pesto Pasta Salad ?

Made with penne pasta with arugula tossed in a creamy basil pesto dressing, that colorful salad is both flavorful and filling. Both that pesto salad and this caprese salad are simple and delicious recipes made with with healthy ingredients.

Using a good quality balsamic vinaigrette can make this recipe even better. You can find a selection of balsamic vinaigrette choices here.

What you need to make this salad.

• Cucumber English cucumbers work well. You can wash or peel the skin.
• Cherry Tomatoes. Use firm tomatoes that have been cut in half.
• Mozzarella Pearls Drain the fluid before adding the pearls to this recipe.
• Basil. Use fresh leaves that have been chopped.
• Balsamic Vinaigrette Use a good quality vinaigrette for better flavor.

How to make caprese salad with cucumbers.

• Prep Time 10 minutes .
• Servings 4 .
• How to serve : Serve as a side or as a small meal such as lunch.
• Notes: You will need a large bowl and salad tossing utensils.

1. Cucumber. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise. Then slice cut the halves into bite sized pieces. Depending on the size of your cucumber, you may need to slice each of the halves in half again before slicing them into pieces. Place the sliced pieces into your large bowl.
2. Combine Add the tomatoes, mozzarella, and chopped basil to the bowl. Gently toss the ingredients.
3. Vinaigrette Drizzle a tablespoon of the vinaigrette over the ingredients and toss. Then drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the ingredients and toss again.
4. Serve Serve your salad with a protein, Pita Bread , or as desired.

Tips for making the best caprese.

Using fresh ingredients is essential to the success of this recipe. This cucumbers need that special crunch and the tomatoes need to be firm enough to slice in half.

More helpful tips for you.

1. For cucumbers that are watery, you can toss the slices with a pinch of salt in a colander and allow them to drain for 10 minutes before adding them to this recipe. Larger (the more common garden variety) cucumbers can have the seeds scraped out of the center with the excess water first.
2. I recommend using room temperature tomatoes for optimal flavor and cold mozzarella for their firmness.
3. While this dish is best just after being tossed due to freshness, you can refrigerated it covered for about an hour before serving. You can always assemble and refrigerate the ingredients (for up to a day) and then toss them in the vinaigrette just before serving.

FAQ

• What kind of tomatoes work best in a caprese salad?
  I like the bite-sized grape or cherry tomatoes. There are other similar new varieties that are about the same size that can also work.
• What are the best cucumbers to use?
  English (hothouse) or Persian cucumbers are ideal cucumbers for this recipe because they have thin skins and very few seeds. If you use a standard garden cucumber, you may want to peel it first ( they have thicker skin) and scoop out the seeds to prevent the salad from getting soggy.
• What can I use if I can not find mozzarella pearls?
  You can use a large ball of fresh mozzarella (fior di latte) and tear it into bite-sized chunks, or use ciliegine (cherry-sized mozzarella) and cut them in half. Standard mozzarella (used for slicing) will most likely be too firm to work in this salad.
• Can I make this salad ahead of time?
  Once the ingredients have been tossed, it is best to enjoy this salad within an hour or two. You can however do prep work in advance. For storage longer than an hour or two, keep the sliced veggies and mozzarella in separate containers and toss with the dressing and basil right before serving.

Variations.

• Consider add-ins such as thinly sliced red onions or kalamata olives.
• Make this salad into a meal by adding in grilled chicken strips, chilled shrimp, or chickpeas.
• Add in some fruit such as cubed watermelon or sliced peaches for a summer treat.

How to Store Caprese Salad

Once the salad has been tossed, it should be well covered or stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Note that the cucumbers will lose their crunch and the basil will turn dark, but it will still taste delicious!

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