Go Back
–+ servings
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Cucumber Caprese Salad (or Pasta Salad)

This Cucumber Caprese Salad recipe is quick and easy to make with just 5 main ingredients, and delicious on its own or mixed with pasta to make a pasta salad recipe.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 5 ingredient, vegetarian
Servings: 6 -8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 English cucumber quartered and thinly-sliced (and peeled, if you prefer)
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes halved
  • 8 ounces mozzarella (baby mozzarella balls or diced mozzarella)
  • 1/2 cup firmly-packed fresh basil leaves julienned
  • 1-2 tablespoons balsamic glaze store-bought or homemade*
  • sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
  • optional: 8 ounces uncooked pasta of your choice (I used orecchiette)

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cucumber, tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil.  Drizzle evenly with 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze.  Then toss to combine.
  • Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed (I used a generous pinch of each) and add more balsamic glaze if you would like.
  • Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
  • Optional: If you would like to add in pasta, cook the pasta according to package instructions in a generously-salted pot of boiling water until it is al dente.  Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water in a colander until chilled.  Then stir the pasta into your cucumber salad, adding an extra tablespoon or two of the balsamic glaze plus salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

*To make homemade balsamic glaze, just add a half cup or so or balsamic vinegar to a small saucepan.  Heat over medium-high heat until it reaches a simmer.  Then reduce heat to medium-low and continue simmering, uncovered, until the vinegar reduces into a glaze that is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.  Remove from heat and serve!