Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe (2024)

If you like caprese salad, you’ll love this Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe, an elegant salad with tomatoes, Mozzarella, and asparagus.

Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe (1)

Friends, just in time for spring and summer, enjoy this elegantPesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe as a meal itself, or a side salad for any meal. It’s made with perfectly-cooked asparagus, red onions, tomatoes mozzarella cheese and the flavors of basil, of course. And if you want to take “caprese” up a notch for an appetizer this spring or summer? Try my Salami Caprese Charcuterie Board!

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Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe

April calls for fresh produce and pesto flavors so how about my 25-minute Asparagus Caprese Salad for Easter this year?

Don’t forget the basil leaves and fresh ground pepper! Watch the VIDEO below to see how easy it is to make!

You may also want to try my Shaved Asparagus Fennel Salad (delicious with anything grilled).

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What is a caprese salad?

A caprese salad is typically a simple salad made of fresh mozzarella, bright red tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and a quick drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sometimes you add a sprinkle of salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

For this recipe, we took it up a notch with asparagus and pesto.

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So, if you’re a caprese lover like I am, there are so many options to make recipes with Mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, and basil. Here are the ingredients that you will need.

Ingredients for Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe:

  • Bundle asparagus
  • Red onion
  • Mozzarella balls
  • Kumato tomatoes
  • Pesto
  • Salt and pepper
  • Pistachio nuts, optional
  • Fresh basil leaves

What is the perfect light springtime meal? Salmon and salads! You can’t go wrong with a mix of salads, and everyone seems to love salmon. Even for those who don’t, salads are enough with hot crunchy bread.

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How to make Asparagus Caprese Salad

This Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe is fresh and delightful.Want to take it up a notch? Sprinkle with pistachio nuts!

  1. On large baking sheet, spread out the asparagus and red onion, and add the pesto. Gently mix with your fingers, and then bake until tender.
  2. Remove from oven and allow to slightly cool.
  3. Plate the asparagus and top with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh-cracked pepper and salt.
  4. Optional to sprinkle pistachio nuts on top.
  5. Garnish with fresh basil leaves; serve.

Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe (5)

Mountain home fixer upper

It was exactly six years ago that we bought our mountain home in central Oregon mountain home. This would have been our first fixer upper here. When we walked through the dark, all-wood, 1984 home, we knew we could turn it into a modern yet rustic place, that we could call home. And we did. That was 2 homes ago!

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Now, six years later, we’re back to the season when we moved in … beautiful spring, with cooler mornings and evenings, and warm sunny days. Which makes entertaining outside perfect right now.

The minute we had keys to our new home, the first thing we took down was the draperies, which we felt gave the home a dark, rather claustrophobic feel. Painted the walls white, and transformed the kitchen.

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We had many entertaining moments in this home.

The icing on the cake when completing a fixer upper is getting to enjoy it with friends and family! What is a home if you can’t share it with others?

Let’s just say, we didn’t have many weekends when our home wasn’t well-used, and filled with friends dropping by!

So fun to reminisce!

What do you serve with caprese?

Delicious, super pretty, and ridiculously easy to make, Asparagus Caprese Salad with Basil Gremolata is perfect as a side dish for dinner get togethers and all those outdoor patio parties coming up this season. Remember, just 10 minutes and you’re salad is set!

For Easter dinner, we love to serve it with these recipes:

BEST Pistachio Lime Baked Salmon

Oven Baked Salmon with Blackberry Barbecue Sauce

Moist Buttermilk Whole Chicken

More caprese recipes:

Cheesy Caprese Dip [Cookie Rookie]

Steak Caprese Sandwich Board

Caprese Flatbread Pizza Recipe

Caprese Sandwich Sliders Recipe

Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe (8)

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Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Yield: 6

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Ingredients

  • 10 oz. bundle asparagus
  • 1 medium red onion, cut in large pieces
  • 6 oz. mozzarella balls, halved
  • 2 brown Kumato tomatoes, cut in pieces
  • 3 Tbsp. pesto
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pistachio nuts, optional
  • Fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  • On large baking sheet, spread out the asparagus and red onion, and add the pesto. Bake for 10-15 minutes (depending on thickness of asparagus), until the asparagus is tender.

  • Remove from oven and allow to slightly cool. Plate the asparagus and top with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh-cracked pepper and salt. (Optional to sprinkle pistachio nuts on top :)

  • Garnish with fresh basil leaves; serve.

Notes

Originally posted April 2018

Cuisine: American

Course: Salad

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

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Related Posts:

  • Epic Spring Charcuterie Board
  • Salami Caprese Charcuterie Board
  • How to Make an Epic Charcuterie Board (video!)
  • EPIC Red, White, Blue July 4th Charcuterie Board
Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is caprese salad healthy? ›

Check out the benefits of each ingredient in a caprese including: Tomato – Tomatoes are a great source of your daily vitamins. One serving of tomatoes gives you about 40% of your daily vitamin C intake. You'll also be getting a good dose of potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin A.

Why is it called a caprese salad? ›

The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos".

Why is Caprese so good? ›

Caprese is truly a magical and perfect combination of flavors, textures, and freshness: ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and some kind of drizzle of either olive oil or balsamic… or both.

What does Caprese mean in a recipe? ›

What is caprese? Simply put, it's a simple Italian salad. Caprese is super easy to prepare and made up of only a few fresh ingredients: a generous ball of fresh mozzarella, red ripe tomatoes for slicing, a handful of basil leaves and extra virgin olive oil for drizzling.

Is caprese good for weight loss? ›

Created in the 1950s as a light lunch for regulars at a famed Italian restaurant, Trattoria da Vincenzo, the Caprese Salad is a favorite for those on our low carb diets and weight loss management programs because it's filling and packed with flavor, yet also very nutritious. Plus, it's very easy and quick to prepare.

Is caprese salad good for a diet? ›

Caprese salad is an excellent choice for those on a keto diet. It is low in carbs and high in healthy fats, and also filling and satisfying, making it a healthy option for anyone looking to lose weight.

How long will Caprese salad keep in fridge? ›

To Make Ahead: This easy Caprese salad is definitely best served fresh but it can stay in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you need to make it ahead of time, slice the mozzarella and tomatoes and store them separately in the refrigerator.

How are you supposed to eat caprese? ›

It stays fresher and it's really easy to use a fork to break your portion up into bite size pieces. Or just eat it with your hands! Another way to serve a Caprese style salad is to chop everything into bite-size pieces, toss with the olive oil and vinegar, and serve over a bed of lettuce or as a chilled pasta salad.

Do they eat Caprese salad in Italy? ›

The caprese salad is a classic Italian dish that has gained popularity all over the world. The salad is made with fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella slices, basil, olive oil, salt, pepper, and is traditionally placed on a plate in a layered circular pattern.

Which tomato is best for caprese? ›

When selecting tomatoes, choose fragrant ones that smell earthy at the stem end and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with wrinkled skins. You can also make a caprese with smaller tomato varieties, such as plum, roma, cherry, grape, or sungold.

What kind of mozzarella is used in caprese? ›

Bocconcini and ciliegine can be used interchangeably — try either thread on skewers with cherry tomatoes for a twist on Caprese.

What is a fun fact about caprese salad? ›

In 1932 Marinetti published a cookbook titled The Futurist Cookbook, which criticized much of Italy's food traditions, particularly taking a swipe at pasta (the nerve of him!). so it's said the hotel created Caprese salad, a pasta-less dish in honor of these contrarians.

What's the difference between burrata and caprese? ›

Burrata is a soft cheese ball with a creamy center, whereas caprese is a simple Italian salad that can be made with either burrata or fresh mozzarella. What is the difference between burrata and mozzarella? Burrata and mozzarella are both creamy, white, semi-soft Italian cheeses very similar in appearance.

What is the nutritional value of a caprese? ›

Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over tomatoes and cheese and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Nutritional Info: Per serving: 250 calories (160 from fat), 18g total fat, 6g saturated fat, 25mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 9g carbohydrates (2g dietary fiber, 5g sugar), 14g protein.

Are tomatoes and mozzarella healthy? ›

One of my favorite easy snacks in the world is a combo of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. Heaven! It's a healthy trio, but one of these ingredients may have some pretty impressive heart-health benefits... It's the most delicious, easy, classic salad: tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.

Is mozzarella healthy for you? ›

Mozzarella is lower in fat and sodium than many other kinds of cheese, and part-skim varieties have even less total and saturated fat. Like other cheese, mozzarella is a good source of protein and calcium and contains phosphorus, which are essential nutrients for optimal health.

What is a fun fact about Caprese salad? ›

In 1932 Marinetti published a cookbook titled The Futurist Cookbook, which criticized much of Italy's food traditions, particularly taking a swipe at pasta (the nerve of him!). so it's said the hotel created Caprese salad, a pasta-less dish in honor of these contrarians.

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