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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Holiday & Entertaining

    Tomato Caprese Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts (and Balsamic Glaze)

    📋 Modified: Jul 19, 2022 by 👩🏻‍🍳 Jami Powell · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Do you love plump and juicy, bite-sized tomatoes in your salad? This Healthy Tomato Caprese Salad with Pine Nuts is nutritious and delicious. The tomatoes combined with the mozzarella cheese and sweet Balsamic Glaze make it a healthy go-to lunch for any day of the week. 

    Healthy tomato caprese with pine nuts and balsamic in white bowl
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • More Recipes
    • FAQ
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food Safety
    A white bowl of spring mix
    Healthy tomato caprese with pine nuts and balsamic ingredients

    Ingredients

    • Lettuce - We like to use the spring mix variety in this salad recipe.
    • Grape tomatoes - We used red grape tomatoes, but we sometimes add other colors.
    • Mozzarella - I always try to keep some of this snacking cheese on hand. Fresh mozzarella is the best!
    • Pine nuts - Toasted pine nuts can be frozen to retain freshness. They can be expensive, so we buy them in bulk to cut down on cost.
    • Butter - Just a little for toasting the pine nuts.
    • Pepper

    Dressing

    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Balsamic glaze

    Substitutions

    • Lettuce - Arugula would be a great substitute for spring mix. We've made this salad many times without lettuce as well, adding a little basil instead.
    • Tomatoes - Any type of tomato will do.

    Variations

    • Add-ins - Chicken would go very well in this salad.
    • Other - If you like Caprese flavors, try using these basic ingredients to make a sandwich or appetizers. You could even make this Watermelon Caprese.
    Balsamic glaze in bottle
    Toasted pine nuts in pan with butter
    Healthy tomato caprese with pine nuts and balsamic close up

    Instructions

    Step One: Prepare the Dressing

    There are several ways to prepare homemade salad dressings:

    1). Use a bowl to whisk or stir the ingredients together.
    2). Put all of your ingredients in a mason jar with a lid, then give it a little shake.
    3). Use a stick blender to blend the salad dressing ingredients together. This is helpful if the dressing includes a garlic clove or anchovies.
    4). Use an oil and vinegar dispenser with your favorite extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to drizzle on salads as needed.

    Homemade salad dressings are easy to make if you keep some essential ingredients on hand. See our Top 10 Favorite Salad Dressing Recipes for the dressings we love the most.

    Step Two: Prepare Ingredients

    Wash all lettuce and produce thoroughly, then set it aside to drain in a colander. While lettuce is draining, prepare other ingredients.

    Step Three: Toast Pine Nuts

    On medium heat, toast pine nuts in 1 tablespoon of butter for 2-3 minutes.

    Step Four: Assemble and Serve

    Assemble the salad in layers with lettuce on the bottom, followed by tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and toasted pine nuts.

    Add a small amount of dressing and give it a good toss. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve immediately.

    Equipment

    This post shows some of our kitchen essentials. Please visit our shop if you would like to see more of our favorites. These are Amazon affiliate links and we earn commission from qualifying purchases.

    • Salad bowl
    • Salad tongs
    • Colander
    • Oil and vinegar dispensers
    • Knife
    • Cutting board

    Storage

    Store salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator without dressing for 2-3 days. If the salad is moist from being washed, place a paper towel on top of it to draw out the moisture.

    More Recipes

    Buy pre-washed and ready-to-eat lettuce to save time.

    Have leftover ingredients?

    • Leftover mozzarella could be used in this Watermelon Caprese.

    In the mood for a similar dish?

    Try these other salad recipes ideas:

    • Hearts of Palm Salad

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    • Close up of Nashville hot chicken salad with homemade buttermilk ranch dressing in a white bowl
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    • greek orzo salad with dolmades close up
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    FAQ

    Is balsamic glaze the same as balsamic reduction?

    Yes, and it is easy to make yourself! Heat some balsamic vinegar up on the stove at low to medium heat until it reduces by half.

    Why are pine nuts so expensive?

    Pine nuts take a long time to grow and it is an arduous task to harvest them. Supply and demand factors combined with high shipping costs add to the expense as well.

    📖 Recipe

    Healthy tomato caprese with pine nuts and balsamic in white bowl

    Tomato Caprese Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts (and Balsamic Glaze)

    Jami Powell
    Do you love plump and juicy, bite-sized tomatoes in your salad? This Healthy Tomato Caprese Salad with Pine Nuts is nutritious and delicious. The tomatoes combined with the mozzarella cheese and sweet Balsamic Glaze make it a healthy go-to lunch for any day of the week. 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 3 mins
    Total Time 18 mins
    Course Lunch, Salad
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 2

    Equipment

    • Salad bowl
    • Salad tongs
    • Colander
    • Oil and vinegar dispensers
    • Knife
    • Cutting board

    Ingredients
      

    Dressing

    • 1.5 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
    • 1.5 tablespoon Balsamic glaze

    Salad

    • 3 oz. Spring mix
    • 10 qty Grape tomatoes
    • 6 qty Snacking mozzarella
    • 1 tablespoon Toasted pine nuts
    • ¼ teaspoon Pepper (or to taste)

    Instructions
     

    Dressing

    • Prepare dressing contents.

    Toasted Pine Nuts

    • On medium heat, toast pine nuts for 2-3 minutes in one tablespoon of butter.

    Salad

    • Wash lettuce and set it aside to drain in a colander.
    • Wash remaining produce.
    • Assemble salad with all ingredients.
    • Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze over the top.
    • Gently toss the salad and serve immediately.
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @powell.family.cooking on Instagram

    Food Safety

    • Wash hands and create a clean work area.
    • Rinse fresh produce thoroughly.
    • Do not use the same cutting board or utensils on cooked food or produce, that previously touched raw meat or seafood.
    • Do not leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov

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    Portrait photo Jami Powell

    Welcome to Powell Family Cooking! Our family enjoys creating delicious meals with healthy ingredients that can be shared by many. Our goal is to provide simple, elegant dish ideas for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests. Many of the recipes on our website have been passed down from family and friends. We hope you are inspired to do the same.

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