The BEST Caprese Salad with Pistachios

The BEST caprese salad with pistachios recipe is right here! There’s nothing like finding a good recipe for fresh from the garden tomatoes.

This caprese salad is so light and refreshing and oooooooooohhhhhhhh so wonderful during the summer when you can pick the tomatoes straight from your garden. I had no idea tomatoes could even be that delicious until I tried my first homegrown tomato. It’s like a totally different thing. Am I right, gardeners?!

We love pistachios too and threw some on top of this pretty salad one night and we both found ourselves digging for the pistachios which could only mean one thing, they were meant to be. That added crunch is molto buono!

Recommended Equipment

• Tomato Knife
• Cutting Board

Before You Begin…

Slice your tomatoes nice and thick! I love a meaty bite of garden fresh tomato! And slice your mozzarella into thick slices too.

What is a Caprese Salad?

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and sweet basil, seasoned with salt and olive oil.

Ingredients for Caprese Salad

Have I ever told you we love caprese salad? No? Well, we do. Like, a lot. Especially when it has a really nice balsamic vinegar (not the cheapest no name stuff at the store). And even more so when it’s the best caprese salad with pistachios. Here is everything you will need…

• Tomatoes: heirloom or vine ripe tomatoes
• Mozzarella: it has to be fresh!
• Pistachios: shelled and either lightly salted or no salt added
• Basil: fresh leaves only
• Olive Oil: you’ll only need a drizzle but a good quality oil will make all the difference
• Balsamic Vinegar: go for a higher quality vinegar or even a balsamic glaze
• Salt and Pepper: just for a little extra flavor

The measurements and details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What Kind of Mozzarella is Best for Caprese Salad?

You absolutely have to use fresh mozzarella to get the full caprese experience! The part skim or low moisture mozzarella, while cheaper, is saltier and won’t grab on to the flavors like fresh mozzarella does. You can get the fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini) if you want, but we love the big hunks of a block of fresh mozz.

If you absolutely need a substitute, then burrata will be your best bet.

What Type of Tomatoes are Best for Caprese Salad?

If you have access to fresh tomatoes straight from the garden, then go with those! Get some at a farmers market or maybe your neighbor! They just can’t be beat!

If store bought is your only option, then go with vin

A colorful medley of garden-fresh vegetables is tossed in a light oil and vinegar dressing to make this tangy pasta salad a surefire hit at your next gathering.

Potluck Pasta Salad

We love pasta salads as the weather warms up. There aren’t many things that beat having a meal ready-to-go in the fridge on a hot summer night.

Part of that is the fact that we lived in Phoenix for so many years. When it’s 108 degrees outside and muggy from a thunderstorm, you learn to eat as light as possible. And, you keep the oven off as much as possible.

No Mayo Pasta Salad

This recipe is great for a summertime gathering because it is simple to make, loaded with flavor, and you don’t have to worry about it sitting in the sun. No mayo is perfect for a potluck pasta salad.

If you’ve been here for very long, then you’ll know that I’m an equal opportunity employer of mayonnaise. I like a mayo free pasta salad with a bright vinaigrette just as much as I enjoy a creamy pasta salad with mayo.

You’ll love that this Italian Penne Pasta Salad can be set out and then forgotten about. There are no worries about a no mayo pasta salad spoiling in the sun.

This Garlicky Spinach Pasta Salad and this Summer Israeli Couscous Salad are excellent salads that are perfect for summer.

This California Spaghetti Salad is loaded with many of our favorite flavors too. And this Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad is a must any time you have fresh strawberries around!

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Loaded Vegetable Quesadillas start with warm crisp tortillas layered with melting cheese and then filled with an abundance of vegetables. They’re absolutely irresistible for snacking or for a meal on their own.

Vegetable Quesadillas

A number of years ago, I was running late with starting dinner; so I decided to throw together some quick quesadillas with what I had on hand.

It took less than 5 minutes to prep everything and get the quesadillas started cooking. If you’re lucky enough to have a bunch of leftover roasted vegetables in the fridge or some fresh or frozen vegetables you can toss in the skillet to quickly saute, you’re all set.

The first time we made these, I had marinated tomatoes on the counter, so naturally, I included them. The tomatoes did a terrific job flavoring sauteed onions and zucchini, all wrapped in melting mozzarella cheese.

In the years since I’ve made these quesadillas with just about every combination of vegetables that you can imagine. The photos were in need of an update, so these were shot with some leftover grilled asparagus, red peppers, and zucchini.

These Shishito Peppers would be an excellent quesadilla option to try one of these days too. I have them on my list to try soon.

Loaded Quesadillas

My family loved the quesadillas so much the first time I made them, loaded vegetable quesadillas have become a regular thing on our dinner menu.

Loaded Quesadillas have become my favorite way to use dinner leftovers for lunche

Four Cheese Margherita Pizza

This Four Cheese Margherita Pizza recipe is so easy and so delicious! Actually, this is our favorite. We pretty much only eat margherita lately and while we love a classic margherita, this one is packed with so much flavor it’s hard to not make it.

There’s something especially wonderful about how the cheeses work together. The first time we made the pizza and I threw that feta on top I thought, this could be pushing it, that may be too much cheese.

But is there ever too much cheese?

Or bread?

Or pizza? I mean, come on.

The dough is a Neopolitan crust which means super thin. We prefer thin, crispy and chewy crust. And we loooove the marinated tomatoes. It makes the pizza even more awesome! They only take a quick soak, and if you leave them too long they will start to break down too much, but trust me, they are totally awesome.

In the end it’s a dang good four cheese margherita pizza so what more can I say other than, just trust me on this one and make it for your family asap!

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Perfectly bite-size Marinated Tomatoes are seasoned with a combination of oil, vinegar, and spices along with just the right amount of sweetness.

I’ve always liked tomatoes, but these tomatoes are irresistible!

I’m feeling very Mary Poppins over here as I realize that just a spoonful of sugar has transformed my much-loved tomatoes into something altogether different!

I made these marinated tomatoes for the first time 11 years ago the day after Ree posted them. This recipe is adapted from and with thanks to Missy via The Pioneer Woman.

Marinated Tomatoes

I am sold on this flavor combination. I couldn’t stay out of them all afternoon as they were marinating on the counter and in the refrigerator.

I kept telling myself I needed to stir them to make sure they were marinating just right. Somehow that wound up in a taste or two each time. Consider yourself warned, these are addicting.

Marinated Tomatoes Recipe

1. Place the halved tomatoes in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with sugar, salt, pepper, parsley, basil, and thyme. Add the oil, vinegar, and garlic.
2. Toss well and then allow the tomatoes to marinate at room temperature or in the refrigerator for a few hours. The tomatoes will create their own amazing marinade as they rest.

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