By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 9, 2026
Serves 6
363 cal · 5 min
The Best Caprese Salad with Pistachios
Recipe GLPR55a140739fd5dd
A vibrant Mediterranean salad featuring fresh sliced tomatoes and creamy mozzarella arranged in an elegant spiral, dressed with premium olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. Topped with toasted pistachios and aromatic basil for a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Ready to serve in minutes—ideal as a light appetizer, side dish, or satisfying main course.
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Ingredients
3 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes
1 lb fresh mozzarella, preferably buffalo mozzarella
1/3 cup roasted, salted pistachios, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, roughly chopped
3 tablespoons high-quality extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Rinse the tomatoes and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel. Using a sharp knife, slice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Gently pat away any excess moisture with paper towels.
Slice the fresh mozzarella into 1/4-inch thick rounds, similar in size to the tomato slices.
On a large serving platter or shallow bowl, arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices in an alternating spiral or overlapping circular pattern, working from the center outward. This creates an attractive presentation.
Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the arranged tomatoes and mozzarella, using about 3 tablespoons total.
Drizzle the aged balsamic vinegar over the salad in a thin stream, distributing it across the entire arrangement.
Season generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Scatter the chopped pistachios over the top, followed by the fresh basil. Serve immediately while the ingredients are at their freshest.
Comments
This is a straightforward salad that hits the Charlotte market well—tomato, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and vinegar are all standard at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart, ALDI, and Kroger. The catch is pistachios, which are not a staple at budget chains like ALDI or Food Lion and will require a stop at Harris Teeter or Kroger for reliable sourcing, adding a trip for a weeknight side. The five-minute claim is honest if you buy pre-shelled pistachios and have everything else prepped, but shelling adds real time if you buy them in-shell. Cost per serving runs $2.50–$3.50 depending on tomato season and mozzarella quality, driven mainly by the fresh mozzarella and nuts. This is a same-night dish with no meaningful leftovers; the basil wilts, the tomato releases water, and the nuts soften by the next day. It works well for summer entertaining when tomatoes are local and cheap, but winter tomatoes in North Carolina are pale and expensive, making this less appealing November through April.
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