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Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad (VIDEO)

This Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad was inspired by a classic Italian salad. You could call this a chopped Caprese Salad, and it’s loaded with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, avocado, and fresh mozzarella cheese, all drizzled with a lovely and simple balsamic garlic dressing.

It’s such a refreshing and satisfying salad that you’ll make it on repeat all summer. It’s especially delicious with sweet garden tomatoes.

tomato cucumber mozzarella salad in a bowl with a spoon

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Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad

This cucumber tomato mozzarella salad recipe brings the best summer veggies together into one irresistible side dish. It combines the best of my Panzanella Salad and Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad. The fresh mozzarella balances the tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado, while the balsamic dressing marries all the flavors together.

It comes together quickly – just chop the veggies, mix the dressing, and stir together—easy! It adds so much beautiful color and freshness to your meal. If you have any leftovers, it tastes great on top of toast for breakfast the next morning.

Tomato Mozzarella Salad Video

Watch how easy it is to make this summer salad in just a few steps. I know it will become one of your family’s favorite recipes all season long. Pair this with juicy Hamburgers and you have the best cookout menu!

Ingredients

This tomato and mozzarella salad recipe shines year-round, but it is especially delicious when the veggies come straight from the garden or a local farmers’ market. Even if you don’t keep a vegetable garden, you won’t have a hard time finding deliciously fresh ingredients at your local grocery store this time of year.

For the Salad

  • English cucumber  – these are sweeter than slicing cucumbers and have a thinner skin, so there’s no need to peel them. Garden cucumbers also work great.
  • Cherry tomatoes – see my tip below for cutting cherry tomatoes. You can also use grape tomatoes or even dice up garden tomatoes.
  • Mozzarella pearls – lend saltness and creaminess to the recipe. You can also cut a large ball of soft mozzarella into small pieces. You’ll need one cup of fresh mozzarella.
  • Avocado – A ripe avocado gives slightly when pressing the skin, but is not mushy.
  • Basil – be sure to use fresh basil and cut it into ribbons (see my tip for cutting basil leaves below)

Balsamic Dressing Ingredients

  • Extra virgin olive oil – this is the basis of the dressing that coats the veggies
  • Balsamic vinegar – adds a vibrant and tangy taste. Be sure to use balsamic vinegar, not balsamic vinaigrette or balsamic glaze.
  • Garlic – fresh garlic is a staple in Italian cooking, giving the dressing a savory, earthy flavor
  • Salt and pepper – season the dressing to your liking
Ingredients for tomato and mozzarella salad including avocado, cucumber, basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, garlic and balsalmic vinegar

How to Chop Fresh Basil

Since basil bruises easily, it’s important to cut it correctly. Here’s how to ‘chiffonade’ (finely shred) basil:

  1. Stack the basil leaves
  2. Roll the stack lengthwise into a log.
  3. Use a sharp knife to cut the roll to shred the basil leaves. Don’t go over the chopped basil again with your knife or it will bruise the delicate ribbons.
how to cut basil by rolling it into a log and slicing

How to Make Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad

Assemble this delicious mozzarella salad with only a few minutes of chopping and a drizzle of dressing.

  1. Chop the Salad – in a salad bowl, combine the sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, diced avocado, and basil into a serving bowl.
  2. Make The Dressing – Whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a separate bowl.
  3. Combine – drizzle the dressing over the salad. Carefully mix the salad together with a rubber spatula or spoon, so you don’t smash any of the vegetables. Then, serve with a large, deep spoon.

Pro Tip: The food scraper that I mentioned in the video above is one of my favorite kitchen tools. It’s like having an extra hand in the kitchen and makes salad prep faster, cleaner, and easier.

tomato and mozzarella salad before mixing

Common Questions

What is a good substitute for basil?

While basil is an essential element of a traditional Caprese salad, this Tomato and Mozzarella Salad recipe also tastes great with chopped parsley or chives.

How to Ripen Avocados

If your avocados are too firm, you can speed ripen in 1-2 days by placing them in a sealed brown paper bag with a banana, apple, or kiwi on the counter. If your avocado is ripe and you aren’t ready to use it, refrigerate it to slow the ripening process.

What’s an easy way to cut tomatoes?

With this hack, it’s simple to cut a lot of tomatoes at once. Put several cherry tomatoes between two storage container lids or 2 shallow rimmed plates. Then, hold the lids in place with one hand on top of the stack. Use a serrated knife in a sawing motion between the two lids to half the tomatoes.

easy way to cut a lot of tomatoes using two lids

Serve with

A classic Caprese salad is typically served as a summer appetizer, but this tomato salad works great as a side dish, especially when grilling. If you want the salad to be served as an entree, you can even chop grilled chicken or shrimp and add it to the bowl.

Make-Ahead

  1. Prep Ahead – To prepare this salad ahead of time, simply cut the tomatoes and cucumbers and store them in an airtight container. Then, Cut and add the avocado, mozzarella pearls, basil, and balsamic dressing just before serving.
  2. Refrigerate Leftovers –The salad will last covered in the refrigerator for a day or two, but the avocados may turn brown.
Tomato mozzarella salad with avocado and cucumber and balsamic dressing

Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad features the most vibrant summer veggies and herbs drizzled with a distinctive balsamic dressing. It’s a crowd favorite that we know your family will love.

More Summer Salads

If you love summer salad recipes, try these delicious variations at your next summer barbecue:

Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad (VIDEO)

4.88 from 50 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
Tomato Mozzarella salad recipe in a bowl with balsamic vinegar dressing
This Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad recipe was inspired by a classic Caprese salad. It has fresh tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and Mozzarella cheese, tossed with a simple balsamic dressing.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 people as a side salad
  • 1/2 English cucumber, quartered lengthwise and sliced
  • 3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls, or 1 cup diced fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 1 large avocado, diced
  • 1/3 cup basil leaves, chopped
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and pressed or grated
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, avocado, and basil into a serving bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper together until combined.
  • Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine and serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

250kcal Calories8g Carbs10g Protein20g Fat7g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat11g Monounsaturated Fat30mg Cholesterol443mg Sodium401mg Potassium3g Fiber3g Sugar766IU Vitamin A21mg Vitamin C212mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad (VIDEO)
Amount per Serving
Calories
250
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
20
g
31
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
11
g
Cholesterol
 
30
mg
10
%
Sodium
 
443
mg
19
%
Potassium
 
401
mg
11
%
Carbohydrates
 
8
g
3
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
10
g
20
%
Vitamin A
 
766
IU
15
%
Vitamin C
 
21
mg
25
%
Calcium
 
212
mg
21
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: mozzarella salad, summer salad, tomato mozzarella salad
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 250
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

4.88 from 50 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Mary Rowland
    July 13, 2023

    Our son made this a s a side salad for Fathers Day and it was a huge hit with everyone. I can’t stop making this salad, it is fresh and the flavors are so well balanced.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 13, 2023

      That’s wonderful! I’m so glad it was enjoyed!

      Reply

  • Karen
    July 13, 2023

    Tasty and refreshing salad for summer. We celebrated a couple family birthday’s last weekend and this was the most popular item eaten. Everybody commented how great it was, especially the light dressing. Thank you Natasha.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 13, 2023

      That’s great, Karen! I’m so glad it was a hit.

      Reply

  • Pat Bassett
    July 11, 2023

    Outstanding! My question is it serves 6 people. Is that about a half cup serving or ?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 11, 2023

      Hi Pat, you can divide the whole recipe to 6 to get the per serving size.

      Reply

  • Cheryl B
    July 11, 2023

    JUST DELICIOUS!!! WOW! Our entire dinner last night was simply grilled fennel Italian Sausage and a big pile of this salad. So refreshing and satisfying. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, Natasha. Another salad favorite for us!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 11, 2023

      You’re very welcome, Cheryl! So glad it was enjoyed!

      Reply

  • Tess Spelz
    July 8, 2023

    Exceptional!!! I couldn’t stop eating it. Its a great way to enjoy cherry tomatoes and basil from my garden. I used the petite cucumbers sold at Sam’s and they were so good and crisp!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 8, 2023

      Thank you for your lovely review, Tess! I’m so happy you loved it!

      Reply

  • Lindsey
    July 7, 2023

    Refreshing and delicious 😋 totally a summer staple with fresh tomatoes 🍅

    Reply

  • Rin
    July 5, 2023

    Not only is this Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad visually appealing with its vibrant colors, but it also provides a great nutritional boost. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a healthy addition to any meal.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 5, 2023

      Thanks for the lovely feedback! So great to hear that you loved it.

      Reply

  • Mandi
    July 3, 2023

    This salad is AMAZING!!! I made for a bbq tonight with friends and it was a major hit!! Thank you so much!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 4, 2023

      Wonderful Mandi! So glad it was a hit.

      Reply

  • Olivia
    July 3, 2023

    This has become a new favorite salad for me! It was so refreshing and tasted amazing. The perfect summer salad!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 3, 2023

      That’s wonderful. I’m so glad to hear that!

      Reply

  • Kristin
    July 2, 2023

    I didn’t have any fresh basil on hand, but I did have some fresh cilantro that I used instead. Still tasted amazing to me! Will be making all summer long!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 2, 2023

      Sounds good! We’re glad that you like this recipe a lot.

      Reply

  • Nadia
    July 2, 2023

    Pass along a big thank you to your sister for the AMAZING recipe!!
    Great flavor, perfect combination of ingredients and salt level is spot on. Loved everything!! I thank you for a great recipe! And I already shared with friends 🥳

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 3, 2023

      I will surely do, thank you for sharing!

      Reply

  • Michelle Lavigne
    July 2, 2023

    Sooo delicious! I didn’t know about the mozzarella balls. What a time saver and they are so cute! Another among recipe. Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 2, 2023

      You’re very welcome, Michelle!

      Reply

  • Janet Cashin
    July 2, 2023

    As a Ukrainian prairie girl you can only imagine my dilemma – I love garlic but unfortunately garlic hates me. Just fresh garlic. Can I use garlic powder OR make the dressing the night before with quartered garlic to infuse the dressing then remove the garlic before I use the dressing. Would that work?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 3, 2023

      I imagine that will work, Janet. Feel free to give it a try!

      Reply

  • Trese
    July 1, 2023

    Just noticed in your video you added a garlic clove, but your written recipe doesn’t have garlic. Did I miss something?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 1, 2023

      Hi Trese! You’ll see a “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page. That will take you directly to the recipe card where I did note “1 garlic clove, peeled and pressed or grated.” Also listed are the instructions in step 2 of the recipe. I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • Pauline
    July 1, 2023

    Hi Natashia,

    How to I favorite this recipe? I don’t see the heart anywhere, and when I search for it on your site I cannot find the recipe??

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 3, 2023

      Hi Pauline, you may click on the heart icon at the right side of the recipe to add it to your favorites.

      Reply

  • Sharina
    June 30, 2023

    My favorites in a bowl! This salad recipe is packed with flavors. Love bringing it to my office for lunch!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 30, 2023

      Hi Sharina! Yes, aren’t they amazing together? I’m so glad you loved the recipe.

      Reply

  • Annie M
    June 30, 2023

    Big smiles for this video! Love the tomato cutting suggestion and also Sharkie” help for you to open the mozzarella package. Glad to see that you are not above the “3 second rule” 😂!
    Excellent timing as our cucumbers and tomatoes and basil are just waiting to be harvested for this recipe! Now if only my husband can figure out how to grow mozzarella balls in our garden! 😆

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 30, 2023

      Hi Annie! Thank you! It is perfect timing and I’m excited for you to try and enjoy this recipe along with us all summer long!

      Reply

  • Kathryn
    June 30, 2023

    Looks delicious! I have plenty of cherry tomatoes & cucumbers that I just picked from the garden, and I have avocados & mozzarella in the fridge, so I’ll be making this tonight!
    Oh, and I saw Sharky helping you open the mozzarella 🙂

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 30, 2023

      Perfect timing! I hope you love the recipe, Kathryn!

      Reply

  • Harriet Stambaugh
    June 30, 2023

    I am allergic to Balsamic vinegar, can I use another ingredient? How about lemon juice?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 30, 2023

      Hi Harriet! I’m sorry you’re allergic. Feel free to sub with another vinegar or something acid like lemon juice. Let us know how you like the recipe.

      Reply

  • Kara
    June 30, 2023

    Oh goodness, this was so tasty! I love the addition of the avocado, made it more filling. I’ll be making it often!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 30, 2023

      So glad you loved it! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

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