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Red, White & Blue Caprese Salad

Red, white & blue caprese salad with a wreath pattern of sliced heirloom tomato, fresh mozzarella, and blueberries, finished with a balsamic glaze drizzle. Built for summer with clean, no-cook assembly for bright color and fresh, juicy bites.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

3 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes
  • 3 tomatoes sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pound fresh mozzarella
  • 1 lb fresh mozzarella sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
  • 2 tbsp balsamic glaze
Flaky sea salt and cracked black pepper
  • 1 flaky sea salt to taste
  • 1 cracked black pepper to taste

Method
 

Build the wreath
  1. Arrange alternating tomato and mozzarella slices in an overlapping circle or wreath pattern on a large serving platter. Keep the layers even so each crimson and white band is visible.
  2. Tuck fresh blueberries between and around the slices to fill gaps and create the blue element. Place them close enough that the wreath looks full, not spaced out.
  3. Scatter fresh basil leaves throughout the wreath, tucking a few under the edges of the tomato and mozzarella. Aim for an even spread so you get basil in every bite.
  4. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze evenly across the whole platter. Use a gentle spiral or crosshatch so the glaze lightly coats rather than pools.
  5. Finish with flaky sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste, then serve immediately. The colors should look crisp and fresh, not softened by excess time.

Notes

Pro tip: Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella to 1/4-inch thickness so the wreath bands stay uniform and stack neatly. For best texture, assemble right before serving; store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 1 day (tomatoes may release juice). Freezing is not recommended for this salad. Dietary swap: use part-skim mozzarella to reduce calories while keeping the same creamy texture.