Strawberry Caprese Salad is a strawberry twist on a tomato classic. Caprese is one of our favourite salads. Usually just fresh, ripe tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella drizzled with a good quality extra virgin olive oil. It’s a classic, and it’s a salad that’s meant to showcase the ingredients.
In Season Strawberries For a Perfect Caprese Salad
Which means that those ingredients have to be the best you can find. That’s why I usually only make a caprese salad when tomatoes are perfectly ripe and in season. Luckily for us, we don’t have to look further than my garden in August. But it isn’t August, it’s spring. And while it isn’t tomato season yet, it is strawberry season now. So I’m making a strawberry caprese salad.
Fun Strawberry Facts
Fun fact strawberries are not a berry at all. They are a member of the rose family. Get more fun strawberry facts here: 14 Things You Didn’t Know About Strawberries
This year, we have decided not to grow strawberries. Because the birds always get them. We wouldn’t mind sharing, but the damn birds always take one bite out of each strawberry, instead of just eating the whole berry. Then the deer munch on the rest. We’ve tried all kinds of methods to deter the wildlife. We’ve put up fake birds of prey, used netting, tried shiny pinwheels. The birds are too smart to be fooled by any of those things. Whoever came up with the phrase “bird brain” hasn’t met these ones.
Not growing our own strawberries means we have to buy them if we want strawberries. Luckily they are easy to find at this time of year, in grocery stores, farmers markets, and fruit stands. This strawberry caprese salad is delicious with fresh strawberries in place of the tomatoes, and I used a peppery balsamic reduction to complement the sweetness of the strawberries.
Looking for more strawberry salads? Check out Strawberry Kale Salad. Or try strawberries in baked goods like Strawberry Cake, or Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins.
How To Make Strawberry Caprese Salad
Strawberries replace tomatoes in this delicious balsamic dressed caprese salad.
- 1 cup dark balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups fresh strawberries sliced
- 1 cup bite sized bocconcini balls
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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In a sauce pan, bring balsamic vinegar, pepper, and salt to a boil
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Reduce heat to medium and allow to boil gently until reduced by two thirds, whisking frequently.
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Remove from heat and allow to cool.
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In a salad bowl, combine strawberries, cheese, and basil
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whisk olive oil into the cooled balsamic reduction.
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Just before serving, drizzle salad with the balsamic mixture
Caprese salad is best served at room temperature
Colleen, what a great idea and I have not seen this anywhere else. When the strawberries are good this must be a delicious salad. Interesting that the birds get your berries. Your garden must be quite something, you grow so many things.
Dina, thanks for your comment. This really is a delicious salad. Yes, we are blessed to live out in the country and grow our food, and love it, but the work involved is crazy. We are cutting back on things quite a bit this year, starting with the strawberries.
this is totally my type of springy-summery salad! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Kelly!