Mozzarella is the fresh cheese traditionally paired with tomatoes and basil in Italian caprese salad.
The salad is associated with the island of Capri, off Italy’s Campania coast. Its Italian name, insalata caprese, means “Caprese salad.” The classic arrangement highlights three ingredients whose colors echo the Italian flag: red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil. Olive oil and salt are common seasonings.
Traditional versions generally use fresh cow’s-milk mozzarella or mozzarella di bufala, made from Italian Mediterranean buffalo milk. Mozzarella di bufala Campana has protected designation of origin status, linking its production to defined areas in Campania and nearby regions.
Caprese is often mistaken for a fixed recipe requiring balsamic vinegar or other additions. Those ingredients may appear in modern versions, but the defining combination is tomato, mozzarella, and basil. The salad is usually served as an antipasto or light summer dish rather than as a cooked preparation.