Avocado Caprese Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a Caprese sandwich made of? ›

Caprese Sandwich- a classic Italian sandwich made with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil. To make the sandwich extra special, add pesto, arugula, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Mozzarella is packed with protein, too. Traditional caprese doesn't have meat as a protein source, but the protein found in mozzarella will be enough to keep you feeling full and energized until your next meal.

Caprese salad is not only delicious but also packed with health benefits. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects against cancer and heart disease. Mozzarella cheese is a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D.

What is caprese? Simply put, it's a simple Italian salad. Caprese is super easy to prepare and made up of only a few fresh ingredients: a generous ball of fresh mozzarella, red ripe tomatoes for slicing, a handful of basil leaves and extra virgin olive oil for drizzling.

This caprese sandwich is fresh from the basil and hearty from thick, crusty ciabatta. The sun-dried tomatoes deepen the flavor. Topping the bread with a layer of basil leaves and using toasted bread helps to keep the sandwich from getting soggy if you need to make it a few hours ahead.

Bocconcini and ciliegine can be used interchangeably — try either thread on skewers with cherry tomatoes for a twist on Caprese.

Caprese Sandwich Serving Suggestions

This Caprese sandwich is a satisfying meal on its own, but it goes well with all sorts of sides, too. Keep things simple, and serve it with your favorite chips and fresh fruit, or pair it with chopped fresh veggies and a flavorful dip like hummus, baba ganoush, or white bean dip.

The best dishes to serve with Caprese Salad are grilled meat, garlic bread, pasta, or a charcuterie board.

Much like the classic BLT, a good Caprese sandwich relies on good quality tomatoes, either from a farmer's market or from your own garden if possible. So what is a Caprese sandwich? The word caprese means “from Capri,” an island in Italy's Gulf of Naples, where the Insalata Caprese was invented in the post-WWI period.

When selecting tomatoes, choose fragrant ones that smell earthy at the stem end and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with wrinkled skins. You can also make a caprese with smaller tomato varieties, such as plum, roma, cherry, grape, or sungold.

Why is caprese so good? ›

Caprese is truly a magical and perfect combination of flavors, textures, and freshness: ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and some kind of drizzle of either olive oil or balsamic… or both. For this Caprese, I used a simple balsamic reduction, which results in a pretty presentation and gorgeous flavor.

Part skim fresh mozzarellas contain less sodium than hard mozzarellas. Mozzarella is packed with minerals and vitamins, low in both fat and sodium.

Fresh chevre or fromage blanc, tender mozzarella, and even luscious mascarpone pair perfectly with summer's bounty. You just need a slab of toast to serve them on, and maybe a drizzle of olive oil, pinch of flaky sea salt, handful of fresh herbs, or sprinkle of everything spice to finish the dish.

Whatever the reason, there's no doubt that Caprese salad is one of Italy's most loved, internationally recognized dishes. The ever-so simple recipe follows.

The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos".

As it's called in Italian, Insalata caprese, Caprese salad literally means “Salad of Capri.” Although nobody knows whether or not the salad was actually first made on the Italian island, it likely originated from a dish made in Capri from a different type of cheese, cacio, served with tomatoes.

Burrata is a soft cheese ball with a creamy center, whereas caprese is a simple Italian salad that can be made with either burrata or fresh mozzarella. What is the difference between burrata and mozzarella? Burrata and mozzarella are both creamy, white, semi-soft Italian cheeses very similar in appearance.