What cheese is used in a classic Caprese salad?

The cheese used in a classic Caprese salad is mozzarella. The traditional salad combines fresh mozzarella with tomatoes, basil, salt, and extra-virgin olive oil, creating the red, white, and green colors associated with the Italian flag.

Caprese salad is named after the island of Capri in Italy's Campania region, where it is believed to have originated. It is usually served as an antipasto rather than as a heavily dressed leafy salad. In a classic preparation, slices of tomato and mozzarella are arranged alternately and finished with basil and olive oil.

The mozzarella may vary by location. In Capri and the nearby Sorrento Peninsula, cow's-milk mozzarella, known as fior di latte, is especially common. Elsewhere in Campania, buffalo-milk mozzarella is widely used. Both are fresh, mild cheeses with a moist texture, unlike aged cheeses such as Parmesan.

A frequent mix-up concerns balsamic vinegar. Versions served outside Italy often include it, but traditional Italian preparations commonly omit vinegar because its sharpness can overpower the delicate mozzarella. The salad's simplicity makes the freshness and quality of each ingredient especially important.