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

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. 

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• Ingredients
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Instructions
• Equipment
• Storage
• More Recipes
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe
• Food Safety

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.

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

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• 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

More lunch recipes you will love:

FAQ

📖 Recipe

Food Safety