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    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes » Vegetable Salads » The Best Caprese Cucumber Salad Recipe with Mozzarella Balls

    The Best Caprese Cucumber Salad Recipe with Mozzarella Balls

    Published: May 5, 2018 · Modified: Mar 22, 2021 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    best caprese salad recipe pin

    Grab a fork and dig in to the best Caprese cucumber salad recipe with mozzarella balls! This Caprese cucumber tomato basil salad is packed with flavor. It’s cold, crunchy, and has plenty of fresh mozzarella balls to satisfy a crowd.

    Serve this make ahead caprese salad recipe at a party, or keep it in the fridge for healthy snacking when hunger strikes. This is one of my favorite recipes with mozzarella balls. Let’s get to it!

    best caprese salad recipe with mozzarella balls ready to serve in a bowl
    WOW – look at all that color! Doesn’t this Caprese cucumber salad look amazing? I make it in a big batch so we have it in the fridge for healthy snacking during the workday. My favorite kind of salads can be made – dressing and all – in advance so there’s no fussing when it comes to a healthy lunch or quick side for dinner.

    This is one of Sip Bite Go’s recipes featured on KGW

    ingredients for best caprese salad recipe with mozzarella balls with cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, red onion, garlic
    Clean, simple ingredients make up my version of the best caprese salad

    Ingredients for the best caprese cucumber salad recipe with mozzarella balls

    The main vegetables in my best caprese cucumber salad are fresh cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red pepper, and red onion.

    Love tasty vegetable salads? Check out this avocado ranch salad.

    ingredients for caprese cucumber salad in small bowls

    This is one of my favorite recipes with mozzarella balls. They are creamy and so tasty in the garlic dressing. Cut larger mozzarella balls in half to make bite-sized pieces, or use mozzarella pearls which are about the size of blueberries.

    fresh mozzarella balls

    This caprese mozzarella ball salad is insanely fragrant from the garlic vinaigrette and basil. Here’s how to make it…

    How to make the garlic vinaigrette – step by step

    The Caprese cucumber salad is seasoned with a simple garlic vinaigrette made with garlic, shallot, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. If you don’t want to make the dressing from scratch, substitute a store bought Italian vinaigrette dressing.

    I roast the diced garlic for this dressing because raw garlic can be overpowering.

    The roasted garlic flavor is sweeter and more appealing to most people. Which is exactly what you want when serving a make ahead salad for a crowd.

    garlic roasting in olive oil in a pan for the garlic dressing
    Get a whiff of this delicious roasted garlic – it tastes amazing in this Caprese salad with mozzarella balls and basil

    Heat garlic, shallot and olive oil in a pan on the stove on medium heat for one minute.

    Stir regularly so the garlic and shallot doesn’t brown.

    Want another crowd pleasing side dish? With only 10 minutes of active prep time, enjoy frozen mixed vegetables potatoes au gratin as your next holiday or weeknight dinner side dish.

    whisking together garlic vinaigrette

    Using a spatula, scrape all of the fragrant olive oil and lightly roasted bits into a bowl or a mason jar. Add red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk or shake together and set aside.

    How to make the best Caprese salad – step by step

    Slice cucumbers in half the long way. With a spoon, remove the soft seeded inside flesh and discard. Dice the cucumbers.

    diced tomato, cucumber, red pepper and onion, with mozzarella balls in a mixing bowl

    In a large bowl, mix cucumber, red pepper, red onion, tomatoes, and mozzarella balls together.

    combining ingredients for the best caprese salad recipe

    Combine dressing with the salad ingredients. Sprinkle basil on the salad and give the ingredients a final toss.

    Another favorite around here is this make ahead Mexican tortellini pasta salad.

    closeup shot of caprese salad recipe ingredients with mozzarella balls cucumber tomato and basil

    Serve immediately or chill in the fridge up to 24 hours before serving. To serve the salad more than 24 hours after making it, add the fresh basil right before serving.

    To make more tasty recipes with fresh herbs, see this post on growing herbs in containers.

    the best caprese cucumber salad in a small bowl

    Tasty tips and notes for making best caprese salad recipe with mozzarella balls

    • Store the salad in a sealed container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Make it on a Friday and enjoy it all weekend. Or make it on a Sunday and have a delicious lunch or dinner side for the week.
    • You can mix this caprese salad recipe with cooked pasta to make a Caprese pasta salad. Orecchiette is a great sized pasta shape for a pasta version of this recipe.
    • A protein served along with it – like sous vide lobster or Italian stuffed peppers – is a great way to turn the best caprese salad in to a meal.
    • Instead of red wine vinegar, you can use balsamic vinegar.
    • This is a great salad for a potluck – serve it on the side of BBQ sous vide chicken. Or with this cheesy baked rigatoni dish that is great for feeding a crowd.
    • To keep the salad chilled at a party, sit it on a large ice pack wrapped with an absorbent kitchen towel.

    Next up, try these Caprese chicken sandwiches

    bowl of the best caprese salad with mozzarella balls

    Sip Bite Go readers also love these easy salads…

    • Mexican Pasta Salad with Chili Lime Dressing
    • Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
    • Red Cabbage and Carrot Salad
    • Mexican Salad with Ranch Dressing

    Try it? Tell me!

    It means so much to hear your feedback – I love seeing photos of your food! Find me @sipbitego on Instagram. If you love tasty recipes, sign up for the Sip Bite Go newsletter.

    party size bowl of best caprese salad recipe with mozzarella balls

    The Best Caprese Salad Recipe with Mozzarella Balls (Sip Bite Go)

    Grab a fork and dig in to the best caprese cucumber salad recipe with mozzarella balls! This caprese cucumber tomato basil salad is packed with flavor. It's cold, crunchy, and has plenty of fresh mozzarella balls to satisfy a crowd. Serve this make ahead caprese salad recipe at a party, or keep it in the fridge for healthy snacking when hunger strikes. 
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 192kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Ingredients

    Vinaigrette ingredients

    • 2 tbsp garlic diced
    • 1 tbsp shallot diced
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp pepper

    Salad ingredients

    • 5 cucumbers skins removed
    • 1 red pepper diced
    • 1 red onion diced
    • 3 cups cherry tomatoes halved
    • 8 oz mozzarella balls halved
    • ½ cup basil cut in thin ribbons

    Instructions

    • Heat garlic, shallot and olive oil in a pan on the stove on medium heat for one minute, stirring regularly so the garlic and shallot doesn't brown. Using a spatula, scrape all of the fragrant olive oil and lightly roasted bits into a bowl or a mason jar. Add red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk or shake together and set aside. 
    • Slice cucumbers in half the long way. With a spoon, remove the soft seeded inside flesh and discard. Dice the cucumbers. 
    • In a large bowl, mix cucumber, red pepper, red onion, tomatoes, and mozzarella balls together. 
    • Combine dressing with the salad ingredients. Sprinkle basil on the salad and give the ingredients a final toss. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge up to 24 hours before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    • Store the salad in a sealed container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Make it on a Friday and enjoy it all weekend. Or make it on a Sunday and have a delicious lunch or dinner side for the week.
    • You can mix this caprese salad recipe with cooked pasta to make a caprese pasta salad. Orecchiette is a great sized pasta shape for a pasta version of this recipe.
    • A protein like grilled chicken is a great way to turn the best caprese salad in to a meal.
    • Instead of red wine vinegar, you can use balsamic vinegar.
    • This is a great salad for a potluck or BBQ. To keep the salad chilled at a party, sit it on a large ice pack wrapped with an absorbent kitchen towel.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 350mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1145IU | Vitamin C: 45.9mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shirley Anderson says

      May 31, 2021 at 8:33 pm

      I printed out your recipe for the caprese salad and I am anxious to try it. I would love to have the nutrition facts per serving, for this recipe. Can you share them?

      Thank you5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        June 03, 2021 at 10:21 am

        Hi Shirley,

        The recipe card program I use automatically calculates the nutrition facts based on the ingredients. If there are specific nutrition specs you need to stick to, you might want to type it into a nutrition calculator you prefer.

        The nutrition info is under the “notes” section in the Caprese salad recipe card. Here’s what it says:

        Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 350mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1145IU | Vitamin C: 45.9mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 0.7mg

        Again, this is auto generated based on the serving amount and ingredients selected in writing the recipe.

        Hope that helps!
        Jenna

        Reply
    2. Samantha says

      July 29, 2020 at 10:24 am

      I have been making this salad, since the recipe was posted 2 years ago and still make it all the time. it is such a huge hit with the family, and will be adding this for a party this weekend!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        July 31, 2020 at 9:21 am

        Hey Samantha!

        It’s my go to party salad, along with this one – https://sipbitego.com/make-ahead-mexican-salad/

        Glad your family still loves it 🙂 Great way to use all those cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden.

        Reply
    3. Mikayla says

      April 07, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Caprese salads are my absolute favorite, this is a great, much easier, way to serve it at my next family bbq!5 stars

      Reply
    4. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says

      April 07, 2019 at 8:05 pm

      Caprese Salad is my all time favourite 🙂 I also love cucumber, so this sounds like a great dish to me!5 stars

      Reply
    5. Sara says

      April 07, 2019 at 7:14 pm

      I will be having this salad all summer long! So tasty and easy for lunch!5 stars

      Reply
    6. Courtney | Love & Good Stuff says

      April 07, 2019 at 5:54 pm

      Caprese salad is one of my favourite salads. I really like the addition of cucumber here it sounds so refreshing!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Pam Greer says

      April 07, 2019 at 12:23 pm

      I’m with you, who has time for individual plating!! This is one of my favorite salads, those fresh mozzarella balls take it to the next level!5 stars

      Reply

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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

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