Nothing beats sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes with soft mozzarella balls, crunchy pine nuts, and refreshing basil. Don’t you agree? My favorite part of this salad is how quick and easy it is, but it also looks absolutely glorious on a dinner table. Next time you get invited to a BBQ party, bring a salad. This salad makes a grand entry because it’s always so popular with both kids and grown-ups.
Ingredients and substitutes
Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes are the best. These are sweet, juicy, and burst deliciously in your mouth. But you can also use a large diced tomato. Mozzarella – You can use a block of mozzarella and cut it into cubes. I love these little mozzarella pearls because they look so cute. Pine Nuts—A bit of a Middle Eastern twist on this Italian classic, pine nuts are absolutely incredible when toasted and added to a salad. Not to mention, they are incredibly nutritious and healthy, too! Basil – I love to tear them into small pieces here so they don’t steal the show, but mostly because my kids ignore them when they are so small. Olive Oil—Good quality olive oil is an absolute must in this salad. Its flavor is unbeatable. Vinegar—I use apple cider vinegar most often, but a good balsamic vinegar works well as a treat, too.
Step-by-step instructions
Pine nuts – In a frying pan, toast the pine nuts. I like to get little light brown spots on them, Tomatoes – Remove the stems, then wash and drain cherry tomatoes. Alternatively, cut, deseed, and dice two large tomatoes. Mozzarella – Drain mozzarella balls from water and set them aside. Alternatively, use a block of mozzarella. Cut it into cubes and set aside.
Dressing
In a mason jar, add all the dressing ingredients. Roughly tear two basil leaves and add them to the dressing. Then, close the lid and shake the jar well. Set aside until ready to use.
Assemble
Next, to a salad bowl, add the tomatoes, Mozzarella, and toasted pine nuts. Roughly tear a few basil leaves and add them, too. Then, pour the dressing over the salad and combine well. Finally, cover it with plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for an hour or until ready to serve.
Did you LIKE this recipe? Save it for later. You can find my recipes on Pinterest. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Subscribe, and I’ll send you new recipes right to your inbox. Thank you for sharing - Save for later
