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Caprese Sandwich (the Authentic Italian way)

A Caprese sandwich needs only four main ingredients: bread, tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, and turns your lunch into a gourmet meal! Learn more about the authentic Caprese salad loved around the world!

Caprese sandwich

Originally published April 25, 2012

If you’re tired of the same old sandwich everyday, here’s a fresh, summery alternative to jazz up those lunchtime blues.

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A simple Caprese sandwich tastes heavenly. My daughter brings this to school and takes along a tiny bottle of olive oil to drizzle on the inside just before eating it, so the bread doesn’t get soggy or make a mess in her lunch bag. Here’s another option for making a Caprese style sandwich: pinwheel sandwiches!

overhead shot of caprese salad in a bowl

If you want to add vinegar, obviously you can, and you will. However, to taste the ingredients the way an authentic Caprese is made, just hold back. I’m a vinegar fiend and still prefer my Caprese without it.

caprese salad on a glass plate
Caprese salad in Sirmione, Italy

I used my homemade no-knead bread but you can use any bread, or roll you like.

No knead bread

If you want to make it warm, put it in a sandwich grill for a few minutes.

A twist on a Caprese salad that kids love!

Italian style skewers made the authentic way

You’d pay anywhere from $10 to $18 for the same thing at a sandwich shop here in LA. I can assure you, and if you follow my advice, yours will taste even better!

Caprese sandwich

Caprese Sandwich (Authentic Italian Style)

by Christina Conte                        makes one sandwich

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients:

  • slices of bread, or a roll (baguette is very good-see pic at bottom)
  • good quality tomato slices, preferably heirloom
  • fresh mozzarella slices (preferably mozzarella di bufala, if you can source it)
  • Kosher or sea salt
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • fresh basil leaves

Arrange the tomato slices on the bottom bread slice and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil.

drizzling oil on tomatoes

Sprinkle with salt. You could actually stop here and eat this delicious open faced tomato sandwich!

adding tomatoes to the bread

Next, place the mozzarella slices on top of the tomatoes along with some torn pieces of basil leaves (or whole leaves) on top, and drizzle with a little more olive oil and salt.

making a Caprese sandwich

Finally, place the other slice of bread on top and enjoy!

Caprese sandwich

Here’s a very old photo that I took before I even had this site! I used to make the baguette Caprese sandwich version for my son’s Loyola high school debate tournaments when I was in charge of feeding the judges. These always disappeared first!

homemade caprese sandwich tomato basil mozzarella olive oil

And here’s that pinwheel sandwich.

pinwheel sandwich

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Caprese sandwich

Simple Caprese Sandwich

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
A light and delicious vegetarian sandwich that pleases almost everyone!
5 from 8 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bread or a roll (baguette is very good-see pic at bottom)
  • 1 tomato sliced, good quality like heirloom
  • 2 oz fresh mozzarella slices, preferably mozzarella di bufala, if you can source it
  • ¼ tsp sea salt (a couple pinches)
  • ½ tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  • Arrange the tomato slices on the bottom bread slice and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. 
  • Next, place the mozzarella slices on top of the tomatoes along with some torn pieces of basil leaves (or whole leaves) on top, and drizzle with a little more olive oil.
  • Finally, place the other slice of bread on top and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can use a toothpick to hold the sandwich together if you're serving a crowd and want to keep them in place.
  • Remember, an authentic Caprese salad, sandwich or similar creation will never include any sort of Balsamic vinegar or glaze.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 sandwich | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 1.208mg | Potassium: 416mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1.451IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 370mg | Iron: 3mg

 

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5 from 8 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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15 Comments

  1. Well explained recipe.We planned for a potluck picnic tomorrow and I am planning to make these yummy and quick sandwiches of yours. Absolutely mouth watering, drooling all over it 🙂 clean recipes and great shots.

  2. This looks divine, Christina – and yes, it’s all in the stunning fresh ingredients. Love how Denisa adds the olive oil at the last minute in her lunchbox. The sign of a true gourmet!