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Home » Recipes » All the best vegan recipes from Sweeter than Oats

Published: May 11, 2021 · Modified: Jun 2, 2022 by Freya · This post may contain affiliate links ·

How to Make a Simple Vegan Caprese Salad

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How to make a simple vegan Caprese Salad. Some of the simplest things are just the nicest, and if you're using the best quality ingredients, they will taste delicious and stay on your repertoire forever.

How to Make a Simple Vegan Caprese Salad
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
The classic Caprese Salad elements: Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil
Jump to:
  • What is a Caprese Salad?
  • How Do You Make a Caprese Salad?
  • Ingredients
  • Method
  • Try my other laid-back summer recipes
  • 📋 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Even if you can't afford or find the best ingredients, there are some easy things you can do to improve the flavour.

Take the Italian classic, the Caprese Salad. It is an undeniably simple dish of sliced tomatoes layered with mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. But over here in the UK, tomatoes are not always the most flavourful (particularly outside of Summer). However, a simple sprinkling of sea salt and black pepper will liven up the saddest slices of tomatoes and make them sing on your tongue.

What is a Caprese Salad?

It is named after the Island of Capri, known for it's warm weather and glamourous location. According to Wikipedia though, it is not an old dish, first served in the 20th Century to film stars and the glitterati who wanted a healthy, yet delicious meal. Another tale suggests that it was made to look like the Italian flag: red tomatoes, green basil and white mozzarella. I prefer this story, true or not. It is undeniably Italian, whatever it's origin, and it is a dream of mine to enjoy a Caprese salad, not in my dingy, windy, overgrown back garden, but overlooking the Gulf of Naples, taking in the vistas of the Faraglioni at Lo Sfizio Ristorante. A girl can dream.

How Do You Make a Caprese Salad?

How to Make a Simple Vegan Caprese Salad

Ingredients

  • Tomatoes, the finest quality you can find, as a preference. I like to use Heritage as they so colourful, and each type tastes slightly different. However, if you can only buy normal tomatoes from the supermarket, use those. Don't use cherry or those small plum ones. They will be a faff to slice, and much of this dish is about how it looks on the place.
  • Mozzarella. If you are not vegan, then use a good quality Burrata or Buffalo Mozzarella, in the liquid. However, I love to use Bluffala Burrata Style from Strictly Roots Vegan. It is available here, at La Fauxmagerie. It is creamy, and flavourful, and actually much nicer than its dairy counterpart. I strongly recommend a visit to La Fauxmagerie if in London because they supply the best artisanal vegan cheeses in the UK. How to Make a Simple Vegan Caprese Salad
  • Basil. Fresh of course. Although some recipes do suggest fresh Oregano instead. This is quite hard to buy in the UK, although it grows weed-like, yet fragrantly in my garden. Basil is found in all supermarkets, and you can either buy it picked or as a plant that will keep offering you up its fragrant leaves all summer long, if you treat it right with a little sun, and a little water.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Use the best oil you can afford. Of course, you can use rapeseed if you prefer, but you want that rich, yellowy-green colour, and richness of flavour.
  • Balsamic Vinegar. I tend not to use too much as I find it a little overpowering. If you can afford it, try this delicious Balsamic Vinegar from Amazon. If not, you can buy a smallish bottle from the supermarket for about £3.00 that will last ages.
  • Salt and Pepper. I like to use Maldon Salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Recipe Footer

Method

How to Make a Simple Vegan Caprese Salad
  • It is so simple. Slice up your tomatoes into rounds. Spread out onto your serving platter. I recommend using either a large wooden chopping board, or a large plate. The tomatoes will produce a lot of liquid.
  • Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Leave at room temperature for at least half an hour.
  • Drain your vegan mozzarella. Tear into chunks and layer between your tomato slices. Season once more.
  • Tear your basil leaves and scatter across the tomatoes and mozzarella.
  • Finally drizzle carefully with some more olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar (in accordance with your taste buds, of course).
  • Leave to mingle for another 10 minutes.
  • Serve with a good rustic loaf, like a white sourdough or a ciabatta, and some great company.
How to Make a Simple Vegan Caprese Salad

And that is simply all you do. You can certainly prepare your tomatoes in advance, although not too far in advance if it is a hot day. Maybe an hour or two. This is supposed to be a relaxed, delicious meal, perfect for a couple, or a larger gathering.

Try my other laid-back summer recipes

  • Warm Sourdough with Roasted Plum Salad
  • 1 minute vegan Mayo
  • Sweet Potato Salad with a Marmalade Dressing

📋 Recipe

How to Make a Simple Vegan Caprese Salad

Vegan Caprese Salad

A simple but utterly delicious Italian Salad
5 from 41 votes
Print Pin Rate Join
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Keyword: Caprese Salad, Easy Supper, Vegan Salad
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 288kcal
Author: Freya

Equipment

Large Serving Plate or Wooden Chopping Board

Ingredients 

  • 10 Tomatoes ripe, not cherry or beefsteak
  • 1 ball Mozzarella vegan (or normal, if that's your preference)
  • Sea Salt and fresh Black Pepper
  • 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 5 leaves Basil fresh
  • 1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

Instructions

  • Slice your tomatoes into rounds. Layer onto your serving dish.
  • Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of Olive Oil
  • Leave to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes
  • Drain your Mozzarella, and tear into chunks. Layer in between the tomato slices.
  • Tear your basil leaves and strew over the tomatoes and Mozzarella
  • Season with salt and pepper once more
  • Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
  • Serve with warm toasted Ciabatta Bread

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal (14%) | Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) | Protein: 15g (30%) | Fat: 20g (31%) | Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 45mg (15%) | Sodium: 370mg (16%) | Potassium: 775mg (22%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 9g (10%) | Vitamin A: 2976IU (60%) | Vitamin C: 42mg (51%) | Calcium: 318mg (32%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweeterthanoats or tag sweeterthanoats!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elena says

    May 11, 2021 at 6:54 pm

    5 stars
    A fresh and delicious salad! Love all the beautiful tomatoes in this post!

    Reply
  2. Jahma says

    May 11, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    5 stars
    So fresh and yummy!

    Reply
  3. Abby says

    May 11, 2021 at 8:01 pm

    5 stars
    So simple but so good!

    Reply
  4. Christine gong says

    May 11, 2021 at 9:23 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe for a easy meal! Saving this for next time, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Nive says

    May 11, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    5 stars
    I'm about to make some rn! But probably with burrata ?

    Reply
  6. Roma says

    May 11, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    5 stars
    Caprese salad is my favorite.

    Reply
  7. Deb says

    May 11, 2021 at 9:42 pm

    5 stars
    Love that you have recreated the most amazing vegan caprese salad, it’s on my list to try!

    Reply
  8. Jenny says

    May 12, 2021 at 3:08 am

    5 stars
    Caprese is my favorite! Can’t wait to try this vegan version!

    Reply
  9. Amy says

    May 12, 2021 at 6:27 am

    5 stars
    Caprese is one of my favorite salads! We have some very good vegan cheeses here in the US as well. This is one of my favorite salads in the summer time because I can use heirloom tomatoes. They are so good!

    Reply
  10. Bianca says

    May 12, 2021 at 9:26 am

    5 stars
    Caprese salad is a staple on our dinner table the whole summer trough yumm

    Reply
  11. Angie says

    May 12, 2021 at 10:31 am

    5 stars
    So simple and so delicious

    Reply
  12. Nora says

    May 12, 2021 at 5:36 pm

    5 stars
    What a lovely vegan variation of a caprese salad! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Katie Youngs says

    May 12, 2021 at 7:52 pm

    5 stars
    I love caprese salad, especially in the summer! I am pretty familiar with vegan cheese but I had no idea you could find a vegan mozzarella. That's so great!

    Reply
  14. Michelle / Taste As You Go says

    May 13, 2021 at 1:07 am

    5 stars
    I absolutely love a caprese salad in the summer months, especially with tomatoes fresh and still a little warm from the garden. So good!

    Reply
  15. Natalie says

    May 13, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    5 stars
    Lovely salad. One of my favorite. I will definitely try your recipe out.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Freya! I'm a plant-based foodie, obsessed with true crime, collecting cookbooks and photographing everything I eat.

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