Cucumber Caprese Salad

This light summer salad is easy to prepare and brings together lots of fresh seasonal ingredients. Cucumber Caprese Salad can be served with fish, poultry or beef. The balsamic dressing and fresh basil leaves are the perfect finishing touch to this colorful plate of bright, crunchy veggies.

Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves and balsamic dressing come together to make a bright, light summer salad. It is true that the best salads begin with simple, fresh ingredients.

English cucumbers work best for this salad, since they are almost seedless and have a thinner skin than other varieties. If seedless cucumbers are not available, you may want to remove some of the skin and seeds before adding them to the salad.

What is a spiralizer?

You can cut the cucumbers in cubes if you like, but I prefer to use a spiralizer to make thin ribbons of cucumbers. I like the ribbons for this salad because they make a pretty presentation.

Spiralizers are inexpensive and can be purchased online or at a variety of stores. They range in price from $8.99 for a handheld tool up to $34.99 for a more advanced tool with more cutting options. The Spiralizer from Prep Solutions is pictured below and was $19.99 at Walmart and came with three cutting blades, one for ribbons, one for thin spaghetti-like strands, and one for thicker strands like a curly fry.

How do I use a spiralizer?

To use the spiral cutter, simply wash your cucumber and cut off a bit at both ends. Twist the cucumber through the spiralizer, if it is a handheld version. If it is one that sits on the counter top, just position the cucumber between the blade and the prongs to hold it in place and turn the handle. It is just that easy. This spiralizer is also great because it additionally removes the seeds as it cuts the cucumber into thin ribbons.

The Italian style whole milk mozzarella cheese gives this salad a creamy element. Soft mozzarella cheese makes the salad more substantial and blends well with the cherry tomatoes and the tangy balsamic dressing. You can slice the mozzarella into thin slices or cut it into cubes.

Making the dressing for this salad is simple. Just four ingredients, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic and sugar. Finish with a pinch of salt and pepper and you have a wonderful dressing for this vibrant salad. I throw all of the dressing ingredients into a mason jar and shake it to mix. I prefer to wait to add the dressing until I am ready to serve the salad.

One of the ingredients that makes this salad so flavorful and fresh is basil leaves. I grow fresh basil in a raised herb box on my patio. It is very useful to walk out the back door and pick basil, chives, parsley and mint for dishes or drinks I’m serving.

If you don’t have a garden of your own, you can travel to your local farmer’s market to find fresh herbs and vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes. They are plentiful now and growing somewhere nearby!