This Christmas Caprese Salad consists of tomatoes, bocconcini and fresh basil arranged in the shape of a candy cane. A delicious, simple salad that will add a fun, festive touch to your holiday table!
Looking for a fun, easy-to-make salad this Christmas season? Transform a simple yet delicious Caprese salad into a fun, festive Christmas-themed salad! Caprese salad is already naturally festive with its red, green and white colours. To make it even more fun and “Christmasy”, simply arrange it into the shape of a candy cane! Who says salad can’t be fun?!?
How To Make This Christmas Caprese Salad
To make this festive Caprese Salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- Tomatoes: I like to use thick slices of vine-ripened tomatoes.
- Bocconcini: Thickly sliced, similar to tomatoes.
- Fresh Basil: Adds so much delicious fresh flavour and provides the green stripe to our “candy cane”.
- Dressing: To dress this salad, I like to simply drizzle over some extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze (I like this one which you can also find on Well.ca in Canada). Finish it off by sprinkling on some Himalayan or sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
Now comes the easy part! Grab a platter and simply arrange your ingredients by overlapping alternating slices of tomatoes, bocconcini and fresh basil in the shape of a candy cane. I suggest dressing the salad later at the table so that everybody can first appreciate the cuteness of this Christmas salad.😉
Possible Variations
Here are a few other ways to customize this salad:
- Make Individual Servings: You could make some cute, small individual salads by using sliced cherry tomatoes and baby bocconcini instead of the larger versions. Arrange on individual salad plates!
- Switch Up The Cheese: Instead of bocconcini (which are round balls of young mozzarella cheese), you could try a different type of mozzarella such as buffalo mozzarella or a smoked mozzarella. Or you could also use a goat cheese instead!
- Drizzle On Your Favourite Vinaigrette: Switch it up by dressing this salad with your favourite vinaigrette or dressing.
More Festive Christmas Salads
Looking for some more fun, festive Christmas salad ideas? Then check these out!
- Smoked Salmon Wreath by It’s Not Complicated Recipes
- Chicken Cobb “Christmas Tree” Holiday Salad by Two Healthy Kitchens
- Easy Christmas Salad Recipe by Julie Blanner
- Christmas Tree Salad by Healthy Happy Life
- Christmas Salad with Citrus-Champagne Vinaigrette by Two Healthy Kitchens
- Easy Ensalada de Nochebuena (Christmas Eve Salad) by A Taste For Travel
Let me know in the comments if you make this fun, festive salad over the Christmas season!
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This Christmas Caprese Salad consists of tomatoes, bocconcini and fresh basil arranged in the shape of a candy cane. A delicious, simple salad that will add a fun, festive touch to your holiday table!
Ingredients
- Vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced
- Bocconcini (larger balls, not baby size) or fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Balsamic Glaze
- Himalayan or sea salt + freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- On a large platter, arrange alternate slices of tomato, bocconcini and fresh basil to form the shape of a candy cane. Overlap each of these ingredients to form the different coloured stripes of a candy cane. Note: See pictures in the post for a visual.
- Before serving, drizzle over some olive oil, balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- I suggest dressing the salad later at the table so that everybody can first see how cute this Christmas Caprese Salad is!
- I left the quantity of tomatoes and cheese up to you – depending on how large of a salad you want to make. For reference, I used 3 vine-ripened tomatoes and 250g (8 oz) of bocconcini in mine.
- Balsamic Glaze: You can make your own balsamic glaze or purchase one. I used the Nonna Pia’s Classic Balsamic Glaze which was delicious. (Find it on Amazon or Well.ca)
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Matt - Total Feasts
How cute! I love tomato and fresh mozzarella at breakfast, so this would be an awesome Christmas breakfast treat!
★★★★★
Vanessa | Maple + Mango
Great idea! Never thought of it for breakfast but it would be great as part of a European style breakfast spread.
Trish Cowper
OMG — I love what you did with this! So festive and so smart 🙂
★★★★★
Vanessa | Maple + Mango
Thanks! Easy way to add some festive fun to the dinner table.
Katherine | Love In My Oven
This is so festive!! It’s adorable. I also love how easy it is to throw together to impress!
★★★★★
Vanessa | Maple + Mango
Thanks! Always good to have a few easy things up your sleeve at this time of year:)
Laura
I can’t get over how cleaver this is. I just love it!
★★★★★
Vanessa | Maple + Mango
Thanks! Why should dessert have all the fun at Christmas?
Colleen
Cute, festive idea for a Christmas table, and so simple.
★★★★★
Vanessa | Maple + Mango
Thanks! Always a bonus when something is quick and simple at this time of year!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
Such a lovely, festive idea – definitely ideal for a Christmas table!
★★★★★
Vanessa | Maple + Mango
Thanks! I always love to have a little fun with food on holidays:)