Olive Mozzarella Salad

You absolutely have to try olive mozzarella salad.

It’s basically a caprese salad with juicy heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, briny olives with an olive vinaigrette drizzled on top.

Take your summer tomato salad to the next level!

How to make olive mozzarella salad

Featured Ingredients

For the pesto:

• Green olives: Be sure they’re pitted.
• Parsley: A bunch of fresh flat-leaf Italian.
• Garlic: Fresh cloves for pesto.
• Nuts: Walnuts or pine nuts.
• Parmesan: Freshly grated.
• Olive oil: Your favorite brand.
• Black pepper: Freshly grated.

For the salad:

• Tomatoes: In season fresh tomatoes are best, if available.
• Greek olives: Also pitted.
• Mozzarella or burrata: Fresh, fresh, fresh!
• Herbs: Basil and more parsley.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To make the pesto:

1. Place green olives, parsley, garlic, nuts and Parmesan cheese in a food processor.
2. Pulse and slowly drizzle olive oil into the mixture until it forms a pesto-like texture.
3. Mix in freshly ground black pepper.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.

To make the salad:

1. Arrange the tomatoes, olives, fresh cheese and herbs on a platter.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and the green olive pesto.
3. Sprinkle with a dash of coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Recipe Substitutions and Alterations

• For the olives: Use any pitted olive combination you enjoy.
• For the mozzarella: Use fresh mozzarella or burrata, any variety.
• For the herbs: Any combination of fresh herbs, such as parsley, basil and oregano, will taste delicious here.
• For the nuts: Any nut will work, I just enjoy walnut or pine best in my pesto.

Nutrition Considerations

• To make this gluten free: This recipe does not contain gluten.
  • Be sure all ingredients you choose are gluten free.
• To make this dairy free: Skip the mozzarella/burrata in the salad and Parmesan in the pesto.
  • You can use nutritional yeast as a sub for Parmesan, if desired.
• To make this vegan: Skip the mozzarella/burrata in the salad and Parmesan in the pesto.
  • You can use nutritional yeast as a sub for Parmesan, if desired.
• To make this nut free: Skip the nuts in the pesto.
  • Be sure all ingredients you choose are nut free.
• To make this egg free: This recipe does not contain eggs.

Serving and Storage Tips

• Serve on a big platter for a party or divvy up the salad in meal prep containers for an easy lunch or side dish.
• Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator up to 2 days.

Summer salads to try

• Fennel and Grape Potato Salad
• Strawberry Cucumber Salad
• Healthy Potato Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
• Broccoli Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing
• Green Bean Potato Salad
• Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad
• Italian Tortellini Salad

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