Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Lettuce

A while back when my husband and I worked outside of the home, we decided to take only salads to work for lunch. After trying out a plethora of different combinations, we landed on this delicious Italian-inspired salad as one of our top lunch choices.

What Is a Tomato Mozzarella Salad?

Tomato mozzarella salad is exactly what it sounds like, with the addition of a balsamic vinegar and avocado (or olive) oil dressing. It’s similar to a caprese salad (an Italian-inspired salad made with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese) except it also has the addition of lettuce. Whether you serve it as a side dish or top it with protein to make it a meal of its own, this salad will soon “crunch” it’s way into your heart.

Making Tomato Mozzarella Salad With Lettuce

It’s surprising that it only takes five ingredients to make such a delicious salad. For a speedier prep time, gather all your salad ingredients in front of you and get ready to chop and toss.

• Chop the ingredients: Cut the lettuce and mozzarella cheese into bite size pieces and the cherry tomatoes into halves. Place them all into a large bowl.
• Add the dressing: Drizzle the salad with the two dressing ingredients— oil and a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar.
• Toss: Toss the salad together and serve.

Tips From the Kitchen

Tomato mozzarella salad is the perfect dish for your summer BBQ! Here are a few tips we follow each time we make the salad.

• Buy fresh veggies: Use the freshest produce you can get your hands on to make it. Farmers markets often have great options! Opt for romaine lettuce and fresh tomatoes (cherry and grape tomatoes are our favorite).
• Choose mozzarella stored in brine: The best-tasting mozzarella is stored in brine, which keeps it fresh for longer. If you find fresh mozzarella cheese seasoned with garlic and Italian herbs, using it gives a great flavor additions to the salad. Mozzarella balls or mozzarella slices (cut into chunks) are good alternatives.
• Use a salad spinner: One of the best investments I have ever made is a salad spinner. Rinse your veggies and extract all the excess liquid by spinning. There’s no chance for a watered-down salad anymore!

Additions & Substitutions

One of our favorite perks about salads is how easy it is to add or substitute ingredients without messing up the dish. Here are a few of our favorite changes to this salad.

• Fresh herbs: Top the salad with chopped fresh basil leaves for herby flavor. Basil is a popular ingredient in Caprese-like salads.
• Balsamic glaze: For a thicker, slightly sweeter balsamic dressing, opt for balsamic glaze instead of balsamic vinegar. The glaze is essentially the vinegar cooked down until it’s thicker and sweeter.
• Seasoning: For a little bit of extra flavor, sprinkle salt and black pepper to taste.
• Olive oil: If you’re out of avocado oil, or simply want an alternative, use extra-virgin olive oil instead.
• More veggies: Add in a few more veggies to use up what’s in the fridge. Red onions and cucumbers are great choices.

Ways To Serve

From appetizers to BBQs and work lunches, this salad is great paired with grilled meat or served as a vegetarian side dish. For a strong protein pairing, make the perfect cast iron ribeye steak, air fryer pork chops, or grilled huli huli chicken. Or, make it a pizza and salad night with mushroom flatbread pizza or air fryer calzones.

Make Ahead & Storage

This salad is a great option for meal prepping, whether it’s for dinner tonight or lunch the next day.

• Make ahead: Mix the veggies and cheese together in one bowl. Do the same with the salad dressing; however, keep the dressing in a separate container until ready to serve.
• Storage: To store the fully assembled salad for up to two days, keep it in the refrigerator. To store for an extra day, keep the dressing separate from the salad.

FAQ

More Salad Recipes

• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad — A colorful salad topped with a homemade red wine vinegar dressing
• Berry Spinach Salad — A great balance between berry sweetness and salty feta, mixed with mild-flavored spinach
• Pear and Walnut Salad — Layers of arugula, pears, pomegranate, walnuts & cheese tossed in a simple vinaigrette.
• Farro Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette — Salad with whole grain farro, apple slices, cranberries, and feta cheese
• Caprese Pasta Salad — The traditional caprese salad, elevated with pasta

Recipe

Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Lettuce

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Servings

4 Servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Tomato mozzarella salad with lettuce is tossed with a simple balsamic, olive oil and herb dressing. This salad is delicious, healthy and super refreshing.

Ingredients

• 2 romaine lettuce heads
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup fresh mozzarella
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp avocado oil

Instructions

• Cut lettuce and mozzarella into bite-size pieces. Cut cherry tomatoes into halves. Place them in a large bowl.
  
• Drizzle the salad with avocado or olive oil. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar.
  
• Toss all ingredients together and serve.
  

Nutrition Facts

Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Lettuce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 238 Calories from Fat 198

% Daily Value*

Fat 22g34%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Cholesterol 32mg11%

Sodium 509mg21%

Potassium 156mg4%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 1590IU32%

Vitamin C 10.1mg12%

Calcium 159mg16%

Iron 0.7mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.