If you’re craving a light and refreshing, healthy summer salad, then you’ll love this easy gluten free cucumber caprese salad recipe. One of the main reasons I love this caprese salad is that each serving contains less than 5 grams net carbs and over 10 grams of protein, making this one healthy, low carb, protein packed dish! Mediterranean recipes like this are heart-healthy and jam-packed with vitamins and nutrition. Your body will thank you for eating this insanely addicting salad!
Nothing screams summer like a caprese salad; of course, if I were eating a caprese salad in Italy, it would naturally taste so much better because HELLO, everything tastes better in Italy!
No need to travel abroad to Italy when you can make this mouthwatering cucumber caprese salad in your own home, with equally-as-fresh ingredients. I love to use fresh basil and mozzarella in this recipe as it really makes the caprese salad! To make my insanely healthy and delicious cucumber caprese salad, you’ll need extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt, pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a red onion. It takes less than 5 minutes to make and according to Healthline’s article, cucumbers offer numerous health benefits including providing antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of many chronic health conditions such as people with cancer and heart, lung, and autoimmune conditions.
If you like healthy gluten free vegan recipes, you’ll love my Pickled Cucumbers, Cucumber Dill Salad, Cucumber Hummus Bites, and Greek Potato Salad recipes!
Benefits of Cucumbers
Not only are cucumbers refreshing, delicious and healthy, but they provide water to help keep you hydrated. According to Very Well Health’s article, cucumbers are actually a fruit – not a vegetable like most people think. The article points out that cucumbers help regulate body temperature, lubriates your joints, prevents infections, keeps organs functioning, and helps improve your mood and cognitive function. Cucumbers are an excellent source of water and can help you meet your daily water needs.
Ingredients in Cucumber Caprese Salad
Extra virgin olive oil. Use high quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. According to Texas Hill Country Live’s article, extra virgin olive oil is high in healthy monounsaturated fats, specifically oleic acid, which has been shown to reduce inflammation and have beneficial effects on genes linked to cancer. Extra virgin olive oil is antioxidant-rich, which plays a critical role in combating oxidative stress. Further, extra virgin olive oil contains polyphenols which protect the body from oxidative stress and inflammation.
Balsamic vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is an integral ingredient in a caprese salad as it provides a tart, soft, rich palate feel with sweetness that is balanced by acidity.
Basil. Fresh basil provides numerous health benefits as well as fragrance and flavor. If you don’t have fresh basil, you can sub with dried basil although it won’t taste as fresh.
Salt. Just a bit of salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Pepper. A dash of freshly cracked black pepper adds flavor, spice, and seasoning.
Cucumber. A cucumber provides a refreshing, light taste, and well as a crunch to this salad. According to Healthline’s post, cucumbers are antioxidant-rich. Antioxidants are molecules that block oxidation, which is a chemical reaction that forms reactive atoms with unpaired electrons known as free radicals. Free radicals are harmful and can lead to many types of chronic illnesses. Oxidative stress caused by free radicals has been associated with cancer, heart, lung, and autoimmune diseases.
Tomatoes. You’ll need one dry pint of cherry tomatoes to make this caprese salad recipe.
Mozarella. Freshly grate mozzarella cheese for the best flavor. Avoid buying pre-shredded cheese as it contains additives and preservatives that prevent the cheese from clumping.
Onion. Red onion works best in this recipe although you can also use white or yellow onion.
Mise en Place
Before you start, prepare all the ingredients. This is known as mise en place which is a French term for “everything in its place.” According to The Kitchn’s post, mise en place means chop all the ingredients and have everything measured out before you start cooking. Cooking via mise en place actually speeds up the cooking process and saves you time as you’ll cook quicker and more efficiently if your ingredients have been prepared and measured out ahead of time.
How to make the best Cucumber Caprese Salad
STEP 1: In a small bowl, mix the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper.
STEP 2: Pour the chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and onion into a medium bowl.
STEP 3: Chop the mozzarella into small pieces or use pearl-sized mozzarella. Stir into the bowl with the cucumber, tomatoes, and onion.
STEP 4: Pour the olive oil and balsamic marinade over the cucumber and tomato mixture. Mix together until incorporated.
STEP 5: Let it sit for at least 10 minutes before serving so the juices have time to absorb.
STEP 6: If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
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Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this Cucumber Caprese Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always try my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your recipe photos!
Cucumber Caprese Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp fresh basil chopped
- salt
- pepper
- 1 cucumber peeled and seeded, sliced thin and diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes quartered
- ½ red onion diced
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella
Instructions
- In a small bowl, make the marinade by mixing the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and onion into a medium bowl.
- Chop the mozzarella into small pieces or use pearl-sized mozzarella. Stir into the bowl with the cucumber, tomatoes, and onion.
- Pour the olive oil and balsamic marinade over the cucumber and tomato mixture. Mix together until incorporated.
- Let it sit for at least 10 minutes before serving so the juices have time to absorb.
- If you make this cucumber caprese salad recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Nutrition (per serving)
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