Caprese Salad: the story on the plate
Caprese Salad is rooted in The island of Capri and Campania. Insalata Caprese is associated with Capri and became an emblem of southern Italian summer cooking through its combination of tomato, mozzarella and basil. Stories about its exact creation vary, but by the twentieth century the red, white and green arrangement had become strongly identified with the island and with Italian national colours. Caprese salad is famous for achieving balance without a cooked sauce: sweet-acid tomatoes, milky mozzarella, basil and olive oil are enough when each ingredient is excellent. Its visual simplicity has made it one of Italy's most recognisable salads. The dish is closely tied to warm-weather eating in Campania and to the produce of southern Italy. It is commonly served as an antipasto or light course and represents the Italian principle that seasonality can be more important than complexity.
Historical background
Insalata Caprese is associated with Capri and became an emblem of southern Italian summer cooking through its combination of tomato, mozzarella and basil. Stories about its exact creation vary, but by the twentieth century the red, white and green arrangement had become strongly identified with the island and with Italian national colours.
Why it is famous
Caprese salad is famous for achieving balance without a cooked sauce: sweet-acid tomatoes, milky mozzarella, basil and olive oil are enough when each ingredient is excellent. Its visual simplicity has made it one of Italy's most recognisable salads.
Cultural significance
The dish is closely tied to warm-weather eating in Campania and to the produce of southern Italy. It is commonly served as an antipasto or light course and represents the Italian principle that seasonality can be more important than complexity.




