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Strawberry Caprese Salad

This Strawberry Caprese Salad is simple yet stunning! It’s healthy, quick, and tastes irresistibly delicious. You’ll want extra balsamic glaze to pour onto everything!

Strawberry caprese salad with balsamic glaze.
Strawberry Avocado Caprese Salad takes only 6 ingredients and 15 minutes.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

Strawberry Caprese Salad is the perfect summer twist on your Classic Caprese Salad. Here’s what you’ll get:

  • Easy and Pretty: This simple summer salad recipe comes together in just 15 minutes but is impressive enough to serve to guests.
  • Tastes Like Summer: This Strawberry Caprese Salad will be on rotation for the rest of summer. It’s jam packed with all our favorite summer fruits and veggies.
  • NOT Boring: We’re a fan of all the strawberry recipes – especially when they’re in season. This isn’t your typical caprese recipe!
  • It’s Healthy: Luscious berries, creamy avocado, fresh basil, and rich balsamic vinaigrette is 100% in the healthy category.

Key Recipe Ingredients

Fresh strawberries in a colander.
  • Fresh Strawberries: Start off with the freshest, ripest, sweetest berries you can get. Our favorite are, of course, organic local strawberries fresh off the vine.
  • Fresh Basil: If you’re lucky enough to grow your own basil, you’ve got this part down. Otherwise, be sure to buy fresh basil.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: We prefer cherry tomatoes for this recipe because of their summery sweetness and perfect level of crunch.
  • Avocado: Look for avocado that are ripe yet still firm enough to easily slice. Save the too-soft ones for this 5-Minute Guacamole.
  • Mozzarella: Fresh pearl mozzarella balls are our favorite for this recipe because of their ease and cuteness.
  • Balsamic Vinegar: Get your hands on the best balsamic vinegar that you can get. For tips on buying and reducing balsamic, check out our Balsamic Glaze Recipe.

Substitutions And Variations

Check out these delicious variations:

  • Add Protein: Make this a full meal, by adding grilled shrimp or chicken like we do in this Grilled Chicken Caprese Salad Recipe.
  • Make it Vegan: Strawberry Caprese salad can easily be made vegan by omitting the mozzarella or replacing it with a vegan substitute or even cubed tofu.
  • Play with the Herbs: While basil is essential for a traditional Caprese salad, we like sprinkling in some extra herbs in the summer. Fresh mint pairs amazingly with strawberries.
  • Sweeten the Balsamic Reduction: For a sweeter balsamic reduction, add a spoonful of honey while it is still hot after reducing it.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

  1. In a saucepan, bring Balsamic vinegar to a boil and stir until reduced by half.
  2. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
  3. Prepare all ingredients and gently fold together in a bowl.
  4. Plate, add salt and pepper to taste, and drizzle with Balsamic reduction.

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Here are a few tips and tricks for preparing Strawberry Caprese Salad ahead of time while maintaining peak freshness:

  • Pre-Chop Ingredients: The strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and basil can be chopped a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Prep Balsamic Reduction: Balsamic reduction will stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 24 hours. You can also refrigerate it for 2 weeks.
  • Assemble Salad in Advance: Feel free to assemble the entire salad, minus the dressing, several hours in advance. For best results, wait to add the glaze until serving.
  • Avocado-Storing: We recommend waiting to cut the avocado as long as possible to avoid oxidation. You can also squeeze some fresh lime on it to keep it fresh longer.
Strawberry caprese salad plated and garnished.

What To Serve With Strawberry Caprese Salad

Protein

Starches

Desserts

Commonly Asked Questions

How long does Strawberry Caprese Salad keep?

Store Strawberry Caprese Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. We recommend keeping the balsamic reduction separate from the salad until ready to serve.

What could I substitute for strawberries in this recipe?

Peaches make a great strawberry substitute in this recipe, pairing amazingly with all of the Caprese flavors. Either substitute them directly in this recipe or check out our Peach Caprese Salad.

Will reducing Balsamic vinegar make it sweet?

It depends on the quality of the Balsamic vinegar you’re using. A higher quality vinegar will tend to get sweeter as it reduces, whereas a lower quality bottle will keep more of that acidic vinegar taste. If you prefer a sweeter Balsamic reduction, feel free to stir in some honey or pure maple syrup right after reducing it while it’s still hot.

How can I tell when my avocados are perfectly ripe?

For this recipe, we’re looking for just barely ripe, firm avocados. So, look for an avocado that’s firm to the touch (not squishy but a little bit of give is fine). The color should be purple-ish black with still some green mixed in. One of our favorite ways to check if the avocado’s overripe is by simply pulling off the little stem on top. If it’s dark under the stem, it’s overripe. If it’s green, it’s perfect!

What are some other kinds of cheese that would work with this recipe?

In addition to mozzarella cheese, we also love feta, goat cheese, and blue cheese with salads like this. The possibilities are endless.

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

strawberry caprese salad

Strawberry Caprese Salad

5 from 11 ratings
This Strawberry Caprese Salad is simple yet stunning! It's healthy, quick, and tastes irresistibly delicious. You'll want extra balsamic glaze to pour onto everything!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

  • cup balsamic vinegar, good quality
  • 1 cup mozzarella pearls, extra mini
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup strawberries, ripe, hulled and halved
  • 1 large avocado, semi-ripe, diced and sprinkled with lime juice
  • ½ cup basil leaves, torn to small pieces
  • kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: honey roasted almonds, chopped or slivered

Instructions

For the Balsamic Reduction

  • In a small saucepan, add the balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil. Boil and stir 3-4 minutes or just until liquid is reduced by about half; should be thick and syrup-like.
  • Transfer reduction to a small bowl and let cool to room temp.

For the Salad

  • Hull strawberries and slice in half, halve cherry tomatoes, and dice avocado. Squeeze fresh lime juice over avocado cubes to keep fresh.
  • When ready to serve, add all ingredients (except balsamic reduction) to a large platter or bowl, folding very gently with rubber spatula.
  • Add kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Drizzle with balsamic glaze, sprinkle with almonds if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Slice the avocado last, prior to serving, and sprinkle with lime juice in order to prevent browning.
  • Caprese salad is best when tossed and served immediately. Be sure all ingredients are chilled prior to slicing/combining.
  • Balsamic reduction can be made up to 24 hours in advance and kept covered at room temperature.
  • Garnish with roasted slivered almonds or make these 5-Minute Garlic Rosemary Roasted Cashews and chop for a super satisfying garnish.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you! 
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Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 126mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Salad, Side
Cuisine: Italian American
Diet: Gluten Free
Method: Mixing

More To Make And Eat

5 from 11 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




34 comments

    • Uma Srinivas
    • 5 stars

    I have every ingredient that is needed for this salad. I will make this tonight! This looks so healthy and beautiful.

    • Heather
    • 5 stars

    I want to eat this flavorful salad all day every day! Definitely my go-to favorite summer dish. Thanks for all of the great tips!

      • chewoutloud

      Thanks, Heather!

    • Allyssa
    • 5 stars

    Super tasty and really delicious! Will surely make this amazing recipe! Thank you so much for this! Highly recommended!

      • chewoutloud

      So happy you enjoyed this!

    • Linda
    • 5 stars

    This recipe looks amazing! I’ve never thought to add strawberry and avocado, and now I’m hooked!

      • chewoutloud

      Glad you like the combo!

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