Marinated Mozzarella, Cherry Tomato, and Basil Salad

A flavorful rendition of a classic (but sometimes bland) dish.

Updated June 27, 2024

Marinated mozzarella, cherry tomato, and basil salad inside a dish — Serious Eats / Diana Chistruga

Why It Works

Using golden balsamic vinegar adds the flavor you want without staining the mozzarella balls.

Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil are a classic combination, but sometimes the dish can be very bland. Here, cherry-sized mozzarella balls (ciliegine) are marinated in extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, salt and pepper, and then tossed with sweet cherry tomatoes and golden balsamic vinegar. Nothing bland about that.

Regular balsamic vinegar will work but will darken the milky white color of the mozzarella. Use golden if you can.

August 2012

This recipe's instructions have been slightly modified to aid the marination process.

Recipe Details

Marinated Mozzarella, Cherry Tomato, & Basil Salad Recipe

Prep 5 mins

Active 15 mins

Marinating Time 30 mins

Total 35 mins

Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 pound ciliegine mozzarella (cherry-size mozzarella balls)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (regular, white, or golden)

Directions

Combine oil and basil in a bowl. Add the mozzarella and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and let marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (see note).
Serious Eats / Diana Chistruga
Add tomatoes and vinegar to the mozzarella and toss to combine. Season to taste with more salt and pepper if desired, and serve immediately.
Serious Eats / Diana Chistruga

Notes

We recommend marinating this salad at room temperature as storing it in the fridge will cause the mozzarella to firm up.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
410	Calories
34g	Fat
5g	Carbs
21g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	410
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 34g	44%
Saturated Fat 14g	70%
Cholesterol 73mg	24%
Sodium 729mg	32%
Total Carbohydrate 5g	2%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 21g
Vitamin C 11mg	53%
Calcium 478mg	37%
Iron 1mg	4%
Potassium 256mg	5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.