Chopped Cucumber Caprese Salad

This fresh, crisp caprese salad with cucumbers is my new favorite side for spring and summer. Add an easy balsamic vinaigrette (recipe included) and serve with crusty bread!

Chopped Cucumber Caprese Salad – This fresh, crisp caprese salad with cucumbers and an easy balsamic vinaigrette is my new favorite summer side. Serve with crusty bread! | thecomfortofcooking.com

There’s no flavor combination I love in the world more than mozzarella, tomatoes and basil mixed with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. And nothing I’m looking forward to more this summer than plucking the plump tomatoes right from my garden, and a handful of basil, too, with baby on my hip. I have a feeling it’s gonna be another good one!

I’m learning to love summer, you see.

Well, I say that now, as I sit in my cozy sweater with the breeze rolling in and birds chirping. Spring in Austin is lovely. But our summers tend to be a little suffocating, what with a daily forecast that promises to fry you like a cracked egg on hot pavement. Or melt you like a popsicle. Sizzle you like a grilled steak? Choose any number of yummy food analogies.

Chopped Cucumber Caprese Salad – This fresh, crisp caprese salad with cucumbers and an easy balsamic vinaigrette is my new favorite summer side. Serve with crusty bread! | thecomfortofcooking.com

Chopped Cucumber Caprese Salad – This fresh, crisp caprese salad with cucumbers and an easy balsamic vinaigrette is my new favorite summer side. Serve with crusty bread! | thecomfortofcooking.com

The flavorful, fresh food is what gets me through the season, after all. Every weekend, and most weekdays, you can find us flipping meat on the grill, mixing up colorful salads, and digging into a bowl of strawberries for dessert. With whipped cream, of course. Summer is just so crisp, juicy and delicious!

… Which I think describes caprese pretty well, too!

Chopped Cucumber Caprese Salad – This fresh, crisp caprese salad with cucumbers and an easy balsamic vinaigrette is my new favorite summer side. Serve with crusty bread! | thecomfortofcooking.com

I already have a half-dozen variations of caprese on here (did I tell you I loved it, or what?), but this has been my favorite way to enjoy it lately. A big bowl full of crunchy, healthy tomatoes and cucumbers tossed with creamy mozzarella, basil and a balsamic-oil dressing? Come to mama!

This salad is unbelievably simple, so scrumptious, and works well as either a main dish or side. Or, you could even toss it onto toasted crostini for an elegant appetizer! However you dish it up, you’re gonna love this delicious cucumber caprese with fresh basil… even better with a big glass of white wine to wash it down! (Or at least that’s how I’m picturing it in my preggo-daydreaming. Sigh.)

Chopped Cucumber Caprese Salad

Chopped Cucumber Caprese Salad

Yield: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, peeled and cut into quarters
  • 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into chunks (or use ciligene)
  • 10-12 fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces
  • 2 Tablespoons good quality olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Pinch of salt, pepper and sugar, to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella and basil leaves. In a separate small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and sugar. Pour over the tomato-mozzarella mixture and toss. Serve immediately, or prepare up to 4 hours ahead of serving.
  2. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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Join the Conversation

  1. So wonderfully clean, colourful and delicious! I can imagine how this captures Summer. It’s my favourite season, but I suppose that is because I’m over here in Europe, and in the UK it doesn’t ever geet too warm. I just hope we have a good Summer ahead, fingers crossed! Either which way I can always whip up this caprese and put an umbrella in my drink and pretend..right? Even if it’s raining, haha :P

    I’m looking at the related posts as well, dang – so much goodness! At least I know where to go for inspiration – cheers! x

  2. Looks absolutely fantastic, Georgia! I agree, caprese flavors are simply the best!

  3. Love this! Especially with all that cucumber :)

  4. Love the bright colors and fabulous flavors. I guess its the simplicity of this salad that makes it so special.

  5. After looking at the pictures of this colorful salad I just got hungry :D

  6. I love it. In my opinion is a much better dish than an old-fashioned cucumber salad. I like the fact that it remains “dry” as opposed to the old fashioned salad (that results in lots of liquid released from the veggies).

  7. So fresh, vibrant and amazing for spring meals!

  8. So fresh and perfect for spring!

  9. A perfect spring salad, Georgia.
    Have a beautiful day!
    Angie

  10. What a great salad! I love a cucumber and tomato salad, and you’ve really added a ton of interesting flavor to such a simple dish. Really excellent — thanks.

  11. Yum! This looks so crisp and refreshing and delicious!

  12. A beautiful salad for the warm months ahead, Georgia! I love caprese anything. When I studied in Italy, I ordered caprese salads everywhere I went!

  13. This salad looks so light, pretty and delicious! I’ve been craving easier salads and I could definitely have this!

  14. What a great salad, looks so refreshing!

  15. This sounds fantastic! I’ve been on a big cucumber kick lately and this salad is just perfect. Some of my very favorites in a light dish! I’m not a big summer person (it just gets too hot!! haha) but dishes like this make me dislike it less : )

  16. Caprese definitely helps keep me going in the crazy hot summers here. I love this cucumber version! The.boy is a big cucumber lover so I know he would love it too. I see it being a summer staple around here!

  17. Definitely summer in a bowl for me. Gorgeous photos.

  18. I love how this salad is chopped! I must try this.

  19. You are the salad queen! This post makes me so ready for summer. Just lovely, Georgia!

  20. 5 stars
    I love this combination too. There’s nothing like it. I can see myself making this salad everyday.

  21. This salad is so green, refreshing and delicious :D
    Love it!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  22. 5 stars
    Caprese Salad is my all-time favorite! There’s just something about that whole fresh tomato and basil action with the buffalo mozzarella goin’ on! Gorgeous photos as always, my friend. Thanks for sharing. Pinned!

  23. i don’t even like salads but this got my salivary glands running!

  24. 5 stars
    I love caprese salad, this is perfect for summer entertaining!

  25. So excited for you to greet your little bundle of joy… you will love it. :) I love this salad.. it’s perfect for my low carb diet. :)

  26. 5 stars
    We loved this salad, and the mozzarella was an awesome touch. Will be making this again for sure in the near future. I will likely experiment with the balsamic dressing ….maybe add a bit of red-wine or rice wine vinegar.

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