Roasted Eggplant Caprese Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is caprese salad? ›

You'll also be getting a good dose of potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin A. Tomatoes get their signature red color from something called lycopene. Lycopene is linked to better heart and eye health. Basil – Basil is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and natural essential oils.

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.

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."

Brush them with olive oil – keep on brushing until all of the oil has been absorbed by the flesh. Sprinkle with the lemon thyme leaves and some salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, at which point the flesh should be soft, flavorful and nicely browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool down completely.

The main antioxidant agent is highly effective in defending against prostate cancer, stomach cancers, cervical cancer and others. These antioxidants also prevent cardiovascular diseases and are known to lower cholesterol levels.

To Make Ahead: This easy Caprese salad is definitely best served fresh but it can stay in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you need to make it ahead of time, slice the mozzarella and tomatoes and store them separately in the refrigerator.

What to serve as a main with Caprese salad? I love to serve a number of things with my Caprese like Ribs, Steak, Salmon, Pasta, Grilled Chicken... skies the limit.

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.

Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over tomatoes and cheese and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Nutritional Info: Per serving: 250 calories (160 from fat), 18g total fat, 6g saturated fat, 25mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 9g carbohydrates (2g dietary fiber, 5g sugar), 14g protein.

It stays fresher and it's really easy to use a fork to break your portion up into bite size pieces. Or just eat it with your hands! Another way to serve a Caprese style salad is to chop everything into bite-size pieces, toss with the olive oil and vinegar, and serve over a bed of lettuce or as a chilled pasta salad.

What does caprese mean in Italian? ›

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.

In Italy, it is usually served as an antipasto (starter), not a contorno (side dish), and it may be eaten any time of day. The caprese salad is one form of a caprese dish; it may also be served as a caprese pizza, pasta, or sandwich.

Undercooked eggplant is often bitter, especially if you're using a thick-skinned globe eggplant commonly found at most grocery stores. Peel the skin or taste and cook the eggplant for a little longer if that's the case.

Not cooking it in enough fat.

The flesh of eggplant is like a sponge — it will immediately soak up any liquid it touches. Drizzle a spoonful of olive oil over cubes before roasting them and you'll see that it's already soaked through the flesh before the baking sheet even gets into the oven.

If you are worried that the eggplant might be bitter, slice or cube it, then salt it liberally and allow it to drain for an hour or so before cooking. Putting salt on the eggplant triggers osmosis, which draws out excess moisture and the bitterness along with it.

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.

Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over tomatoes and cheese and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Nutritional Info: Per serving: 250 calories (160 from fat), 18g total fat, 6g saturated fat, 25mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 9g carbohydrates (2g dietary fiber, 5g sugar), 14g protein.

One of my favorite easy snacks in the world is a combo of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. Heaven! It's a healthy trio, but one of these ingredients may have some pretty impressive heart-health benefits... It's the most delicious, easy, classic salad: tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.

Low in Calories

Caprese salad is a low-calorie option that can help with weight management. It typically contains only around 150-200 calories per serving.