One of the highlights of summer is that heavenly combination of fresh, sun-ripened heirloom tomatoes and aromatic basil. Add some fresh mozzarella and you have an unbeatable Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad that’s the pinnacle of any meal.

Tomatoes and basil are a classic combo. The two grow perfectly together in the garden, with basil often credited for helping keep pests away from tomatoes. This simple Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad highlights the relationship of these garden buddies by leaving plenty of space for the flavors to complement each other.

This recipe is about as simple as it gets. A Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad is really just those three ingredients with a little bit of olive oil and salt and pepper to help focus the inherent flavors of the trio. It’s this simplicity that makes it important to choose your ingredients wisely.

You can’t skimp on this one. Don’t get me wrong, I use store-bought tomatoes in the winter and even in some dishes when I need extras during tomato season. But when it comes to a Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella salad, the store-bought versions just don’t match the intense and rich flavors of a tomato straight from the garden. It’s the same with the mozzarella. If you can get fresh mozzarella from a local farm or specialty shop, go for it.

Again, because there are so few ingredients, the quality and flavor of those ingredients are what makes this recipe so wonderful. That makes this salad a true celebration of summer. So go grab those sun-ripened tomatoes from your garden or get some at your local farm stand and let your senses bask in the glory of this dish.

Garden-Fresh Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad

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Enjoy the bounty of your garden with this easy Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad you can make with your sun-ripened tomatoes.

• Author: Amanda MacArthur
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: Serves 1 to 2 1x
• Category: Salads & Dressings

Ingredients

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• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 large ripe garden tomatoes, any variety
• 8 oz mozzarella ball
• 10 large basil leaves
• Salt and freshly ground peppercorns to taste

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Instructions

1. Slice your tomatoes, into ¼” slices, then slice your mozzarella in half, then create ⅛-¼” half-moon slices.
2. On a medium plate, layer the tomatoes and mozzarella in a circle, in between whole basil leaves, or if you have an herb cutter, use them to shred the basil into strips and sprinkle over the top.
3. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and freshly ground peppercorns.

If you’d like to grow your own tomatoes, or just want to learn more about caring for the tomatoes you’ve started, take a look at The Everything Tomato Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Tomatoes. 

What tomatoes do you like to use in this Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad? Leave your favorites in the comments.