This avocado Caprese salad is bursting with fresh flavors from the garden. Juicy heirloom tomatoes, creamy avocado, and fresh basil make it a deliciously simple dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan summer salad.
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This simple fresh tomato avocado salad is a perfect appetizer for these hot summer nights.
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What you'll need
Traditionally, Caprese salad includes layers of fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. Well, this is my dairy-free take on the classic so you won't need any mozzarella.
I substitute avocado for the fresh mozzarella and layer it with heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil from the garden. The avocado adds a creaminess that contrasts with the sweetness and acidity of the tomatoes.
The key to this easy avocado salad is having perfectly ripe produce. You want your heirloom tomatoes and basil at their peak of flavor, and the avocado perfectly ripe and creamy.
And, of course fresh basil is what really takes this salad over the top. If you have an herb garden, you can just cut off what you need to top the salad. I keep a pot of basil growing on the deck or in the kitchen to use in recipes.
Other than that, you'll need a few basic pantry ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and a clean balsamic vinegar if you like. Be sure to look for one with no sugar added.
How to put it together
Slice the avocados horizontally to make perfect rounds so they fit neatly on the tomato slices. Watch the video to see exactly how to do it!
Don't forget to toss the avocado slices in a little lemon juice to prevent browning. Dress the salad simply with the best quality extra virgin olive oil, coarse sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper.
You can also drizzle with a nice aged balsamic vinegar if you like. The tangy balsamic pairs perfectly with the creamy avocado and EVOO. That's it-it really is that simple to make a gorgeous summer salad.
With summer produce at its peak of freshness, you hardly have to do anything to it. Let the fresh summer flavors shine through and enjoy this quick and easy tomato avocado Caprese salad recipe any night of the week.
More easy salads
If you love fresh simple salads, here are some more easy recipes to try:
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- Antipasto Salad with Easy Italian Dressing
- Avocado Tuna Salad
- Shrimp and Arugula Salad
- Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad
Avocado Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 4 medium heirloom tomatoes
- 3 medium avocados
- 1 large bunch fresh basil
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 tablespoons organic extra virgin olive oil
- aged balsamic vinegar optional
- sea salt
- fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Cut the avocado around the equator and remove pit. Slice into rounds, then remove the peel. Lightly toss avocado slices in lemon juice.
- Slice tomatoes and salt lightly.
- Layer tomato slices, avocado slices, and basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, if using. Salt and pepper to taste.
KalynsKitchen says
I really love this recipe. Wanted to let you know that I featured it in my monthly round-up of 25 Deliciously Healthy Low-Carb Recipes. I hope a lot of my readers will come over here and try it!
Lisa says
Thanks Kalyn! 🙂
Nina says
This is so good! We did with lemon instead of vinegar because of allergies...and used reg. tomatoes because didn't have heirloom. We have made twice in two days - yum! Thanks!
Lisa says
Yay! This salad is a favorite with my family too! 🙂
Nina says
Finally got an heirloom...yum! Also put some slices of red onion with it. We are eating it so much we are experiment with it:) Gave it a nice spicy bite. Thanks again!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
This looks really delicious! I love the idea of using avocado instead of a plant-based cheese.
stephanie says
Love the video! I've never thought of making avocado rounds and seeing the video made it look so easy.
Lisa says
Thanks Stephanie!
Roseanne says
This is" whats for dinner" Honey!!! and add a little the red onion...oh so good.
Thank for for sharing
Rox G
Sabrina B. says
thank you for this recipe and video, saw this in the recent Labor Day list of posts and already love all of these ingredients but have refrained lately from eating or making caprese since I don't want/need a layer of bread!
So, great reminder and great illustration of why the bread isn't even necessary, probably won't miss it the more ripe the tomato-avocado are
Kim says
I made this recipe this morning as part of breakfast. I didn't have any balsamic vinegar and didn't want to make a substitute. I also used different tomatoes. Not sure what kind they were but they were small but twice the size of cherry tomatoes. I also left out the lemon, salt and pepper. It was a big hit. My daughter even made a special request to have it made more often.
Lisa says
I'm so glad she loved it Kim!
Frank says
This is a clever version of the famous Caprese salad for vegans. I love the video, short but to the point. Great recipe!
Nancy says
So good! I was really missing caprese salad, but can’t have diary. and was excited to find this recipe. We loved it, and now it’s October. So I’m looking forward to next summer when tomatoes are really amazing! This is a keeper.
Carla Adams says
I cannot get over the sheer deliciousness of this meal😋