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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:

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What is a caprese salad?
Basil vinaigrette
Ingredients
How long will vegan caprese last?
What to serve with it?
📖 Recipe

What is a caprese salad?

Tomato and avocado salad in bowl with basil.

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.

What to serve with it?

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:

📖 Recipe