This watermelon caprese salad is a twist on the classic Italian salad. In addition to the classic ingredients – ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil – this recipe also features juicy chunks of fresh watermelon. The combination is a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors, creating a delightful dish for summer (that requires no cooking). Enjoy this as a side dish or a midday snack!
Disclosure: This recipe was originally featured on social media as part of a partnership with the Watermelon Board. I have chosen to post it on the blog as well, and this particular blog post was not sponsored.
Ingredients and Instructions
Here’s a photo of all the ingredients you’ll need, along with ingredient notes:
- Tomatoes – Feel free to use whatever you have on hand. I love cherry tomatoes for their sweetness, but you can also use standard roma or beefsteak tomatoes, or grab some heirloom tomatoes at your local farm.
- Watermelon – The key to choosing the perfect watermelon is remembering this: look, lift, and turn. Look for a watermelon with no cuts or bruises, lift it and feel that it’s heavy for its size, and turn it over to double check for a yellow spot on the bottom (that means peak ripeness).
- Mozzarella – Part-skim mozzarella adds a salty richness to this recipe. You can use a block, a log, or even string cheese.
- Basil – Fresh basil adds an herbaceous note, and is also really easy to grow at home in a windowsill.
- Balsamic vinegar – While you could make a balsamic glaze, I find that a splash of plain balsamic vinegar works just fine.
- Salt and pepper – Season to your taste preferences
Once you’ve got all your ingredients, you’re just going to mix the tomatoes, watermelon, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic in a bowl. Toss it until everything is well-combined, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Easy peasy, right?!
Recipe FAQ
Here are some common questions that may come up as you’re preparing this recipe:
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Use within 3 days for best quality.
It’s not recommended to freeze watermelon caprese salad, as the texture of the watermelon and tomatoes can change with freezing and thawing. Enjoy it fresh!
Sure – if you want a vegan version, just substitute a dairy-free mozzarella in place of the traditional mozzarella cheese. The remainder of the recipe is all plant-based.
Nutrition Benefits
As a dietitian, this is one of my favorite summertime recipes for several reasons:
- High volume dish – Because tomatoes and watermelon both have a high water content, you end up with a big ‘ol bowl of this recipe that’s still light yet filling.
- Contains calcium – This snack contains 25% of your daily calcium needs, which is key for bone health. (And we know active women need strong bones!)
- Provides potassium – This recipe clocks in at 15% of your daily potassium needs, which is an electrolyte lost in sweat during workouts. Potassium is involved in heart and muscle contractions as well as blood pressure regulation.
- Contains Vitamin C – With 42% of your daily Vitamin C needs, this dish helps support a healthy immune system and healthy skin.
More Watermelon Recipes
Looking for more ways to use watermelon this summer? Be sure to give one of these tasty recipes a try:
- Watermelon and coconut yogurt parfait
- Vegan watermelon “tartare” (this is one of my favorites!)
- Mini strawberry and watermelon rind pies (great way to use the rind and reduce food waste)
- Bacon wrapped watermelon
- Watermelon panzanella salad
- No bake citrus watermelon pie
I hope you enjoy this watermelon, tomato, and mozzarella salad. If you get a chance to try it, feel free to leave a recipe rating or comment below.
Watermelon Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced watermelon
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1.5 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp sliced fresh basil
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper optional, to taste
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the watermelon, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and vinegar. Toss well.
- Season with salt and pepper if desired to taste (note that mozzarella is naturally salty, so you may not need any seasoning depending on preferences). Enjoy!
Notes
- This makes one large serving (for a hearty snack) or two smaller servings (for a side dish to a meal). The nutrition analysis below assumes one large serving.
Nutrition
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