This is not a typical caprese salad with thick slabs of tomato and mozzarella, this version is fork-friendly and bite-sized instead. Keto caprese salad has that classic combination, mozzarella, tomato, and basil, with a few extra ingredients to boost the flavor.
This post may contain affiliate link(s). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure.
I have been making this the same way since I had my own restaurant and catering business. It is fresh, easy, and stores well in the fridge for a few days.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my Privacy Policy.
Jump-start your keto success! Grab a copy of my 4-week Easy Keto Menu Plan or check out my other cookbooks to help you along.
Join our Facebook group for friendly keto support, and for videos on how to make these recipes, subscribe to my YouTube channel!
Chef Jenn’s Take on Caprese Salad
Use grape tomatoes and skip cutting them in half if they are small enough, the salad genuinely keeps longer in the fridge that way.
Dice the shallot and mince the garlic, then whisk the red wine vinegar into the olive oil to build a real emulsion. Combine the tomatoes, shallot, garlic, red pepper flakes, fresh herbs, and mozzarella with the dressing, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Use fresh mozzarella specifically, packaged in water, it is sweeter and more delicious than bagged shreds or blocks. Look for it in the deli section or an Italian market, small balls or a larger ball cut up both work fine.
No shallots on hand? Vidalia or red onion work as substitutes. Like it spicier? Double the red pepper flakes. A drizzle of pesto over the top adds even more flavor if you want to dress it up. Use a good quality olive oil here, or avocado oil works nicely too.
What You’ll Love About Caprese Salad
- Genuinely flexible, dress it up with pesto or extra heat.
- Fork-friendly and bite-sized, a genuine upgrade on the classic slices.
- Fresh, easy, and stores well for a few days in the fridge.
Ingredients
- Grape tomatoes – Whole, or halved if larger.
- Fresh mozzarella – Packaged in water, small balls or a larger ball cut up. Not the bagged shredded kind.
- Shallot – Diced. Vidalia or red onion work as substitutes.
- Garlic – Fresh is best!
- Olive oil – Good quality, or avocado oil.
- Red wine vinegar – For the dressing.
- Red pepper flakes – Double for more heat.
- Fresh basil – Don’t skip the fresh herbs; they put this dish over the top.
- Fresh parsely
- Salt and pepper – To taste.
How to Make Caprese Salad
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Dice the shallot and mince the garlic. Whisk the red wine vinegar into the olive oil to create an emulsion.
Add the tomatoes, shallot, garlic, mozzarella balls, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs to a mixing bowl with the dressing.
Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, toss well, and serve.
Make It A Meal
Top this with a few slices of grilled chicken or shrimp for a full meal, or serve it alongside Keto Pulled Pork, Keto Roast Beef, or Keto Chicken Marsala.
For more fresh salads, Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad is another great pick.
Storage
This keeps well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, tightly covered. Or prep all the ingredients ahead and toss everything together about an hour before serving, that gives the flavors time to blend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you sure can. This dish will keep fine in the fridge for 3-4 days if tightly covered. Or, prepare all the ingredients ahead of time and just toss it all together about an hour before serving. You want to give the flavors a chance to blend together before serving.
It sure is! Limit the shallot and the garlic to keep the carbs in check, and a moderate serving of this salad has about 4 net carbs in it, making it a great choice for keto diets.
Absolutely! This salad is easy to scale up – just double or triple the ingredients to make enough for a crowd.
Add Preferred SourceKeto Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sliced shallots
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 4 cups grape tomatoes
- 2 cups mozzarella balls
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add the shallots, garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pepper flakes, and herbs to a medium size mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing by whisking the red wine vinegar into the olive oil to create an emulsion.
- Mix the salad with the vinaigrette, season with a pinch of salt and pepper (optional), and serve!
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Skip halving the grape tomatoes if they’re small enough, the salad keeps longer that way.
- Use fresh mozzarella packaged in water, not bagged shreds or blocks, for the best flavor.
- Prep everything ahead and toss together about an hour before serving to let the flavors blend.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Want Even More Easy Keto Recipes?
These are some of my current favorites:
- Crack Cauliflower
- Beefy minestrone soup
- Grilled vegetables
- And this dump-and-go Instant Pot classic
Having trouble counting carbs? Check out this handy calculator.
Such a great salad, and awesome that it’s keto too!
This looks like a perfect recipe for entertaining! Saving it
I loved this Caprese salad, it was super fresh and easy to make.
Caprese salad is something my whole family enjoys. We do not follow a keto lifestyle but will be enjoying this recipe none the less with fresh basil from the yard.
The end of the summer is the perfect time for caprese salad! The red pepper flakes add a nice kick!