Avocado caprese salad highlights the best of summer.
It’s loaded with fresh off the vine tomatoes, avocado, and fragrant basil.
It’s then topped in a simple basil vinaigrette. Vegan & gluten-free.
There’s not much better than a ripe, summer tomato.
Winter tomatoes can be mealy and a little bland.
But summer tomatoes?
Juicy, sweet, and inviting.
That’s why once summer arrives, I find every excuse to eat fragrant tomatoes, still warm off the vine.
I’ll happily eat them right out of my palm – apple style.
I use them in bruschetta al pomodoro or squeezed into farmers market juice.
And when they’re not quite ripe, of course, I’m never sad about fried green tomatoes cooked in the air fryer or skillet.
Another classic way to use a bumper crop of tomatoes is caprese salad.
In this post:
Why readers love this recipe
“Such a simple and fresh salad. So lovely and delicious!” – Caitlin
What is a caprese salad?
Caprese salad is a simple dish that allows its few ingredients to shine.
It’s typically made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil seasoned with olive oil & salt.
(The hues of red, white, and green highlight the colors of the Italian flag.)
Since this is a vegan caprese salad, I’ve taken a few liberties and strayed from the standard.
Instead of using mozzarella, I chose avocado.
Full of buttery, fatty goodness, it makes this easy salad irresistible.
(Of course, if you’d prefer, you could use Miyoko’s cashew-based mozzarella. Either the regular version or the smoked one would be delicious here.)
With just a few delicious ingredients, this isn’t the kind of salad that makes you poke around, looking for a good bite.
Every single bite is exactly the one you want.
Basil vinaigrette
Instead of olive oil alone, I opted for a balsamic vinaigrette with fresh basil.
This basil vinaigrette is made with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chopped garlic, and basil.
Blend it in a blender until smooth and full bodied.
Be warned that the greenish brown color of the dressing is not the prettiest shade you’ve ever seen in your life.
But the taste is oh, so good.
Once it’s time for dinner, put out the serving bowl of salad.
Then let guests top their own individual salads with dressing.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.
Extra virgin olive oil: This mildly flavored oil is the base of the salad dressing.
Balsamic vinegar: This lush vinegar adds tang.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds bite.
Basil: Fresh basil is imperative here. Don’t substitute with dried.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes are the star of the show. Juicy summer tomatoes are ideal.
Avocado: This adds buttery fat, which takes the place of mozzarella.
Salt: Just a pinch brings all of the flavors together.
How long will vegan caprese last?
Because this vegan caprese salad uses avocado, I recommend eating it all in one go.
Cut avocado just doesn’t look as pretty the next day.
So make the amount you need for your meal and enjoy every last bite.
Serving ideas
Avocado caprese salad is best with a crusty loaf of bread. Olive oil bread dip and/or dukkah for dipping would also be nice here.
Round out the meal with any of the following main courses:
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Avocado caprese salad with basil vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 small garlic clove chopped
- 2 Tablespoons chopped basil plus a few leaves extra for garnish
- 2 medium to large tomatoes cut into wedges
- 1 avocado cubed
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- To make the dressing: In a blender, blend extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and 2 Tablespoons chopped basil until completely combined.
- In a bowl, toss tomatoes and avocado. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing. Top with a pinch of salt and garnish with a few leaves of basil (chopped or whole).
Notes
Nutrition
Content updated July 7, 2022. Originally posted August 11, 2014.
David
Tomatoes, basil, and avocado? Yes, please!! This was delicious. 🙂
Cadry
Glad you enjoyed it! Basil, tomatoes, and avocado were made for each other.
Becky Striepe
This looks so amazing! Those tomatoes are perfection.
Cadry
Thanks, Becky! The tomatoes are ridiculous right now. So good.
Chitra Jagadish
dressing sounds delicious and love the twist on caprese ….what a refreshing salad…
Cadry
Thanks, Chitra!
Becky
Love it! Replacing the mozz with avocado was such a simple, brilliant idea!
Cadry
Avocado makes everything better! It’s like the miracle fruit.
Richa
that has summer written all over it!
Cadry
The smell of basil always feels like summer to me, that’s for sure!
Shell
Delicious!!! It makes me want to hold on to summer a little longer!
Cadry
I know! Luckily, the summer tomatoes are still going for a bit longer. I will miss them when they’re gone!
Caitlin
such a simple and fresh salad. so lovely and delicious!
Cadry
Thanks, Caitlin!
Shannon Y-I-V
I love this twist on caprese! Avocado is a great stand-in for mozzarella and I’m sure the basil-infused vinaigrette makes everything sing. I agree this is a great way to enjoy summer tomatoes 🙂
Cadry
It seems like avocado improves almost anything that it touches!
Nicollette D
I have all the ingredients in my kitchen now. It’s like you read my mind. 🙂 now I know what’s for dinner!
Cadry
Excellent! I hope you enjoy it!
thepeacepatch
Fabulicious idea…the balance of flavors is genius! My mom will love this…of course she’ll add capers (she adds them to *every* salad), then it’s mangia mangia! 🙂
Cadry
Nice! I bet that capers, artichoke hearts, or olives would all be tasty additions!