My Caprese Christmas Wreath is the ideal addition to your festive table. Not only is it a delicious and popular salad, but it makes an attractive table centrepiece. Enjoy it as an appetiser or serve it as a side dish; it is the ideal companion to hot or cold dishes, meat, fish or poultry.
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Why we love this recipe:
This classic Italian salad is ideal when you’re short on time, and who isn’t these days? It is a great last-minute addition to your festive table as it is quick and easy to prepare from ingredients which are readily available in the supermarket.
This is my Christmas interpretation of the traditional and popular Italian appetiser. I thought that making it in the shape of a wreath was a great way to serve it. It adds the perfect celebratory note when served this way.
When making plans to entertain over the festive season, it is essential that some, if not all elements, be simple to prepare. I like the idea of colourful platters of food that are simple to prepare, such as this salad.
It is light and healthy and is an ideal contrast to the heavier foods that many of us will consume over this season.
Despite being simple to prepare, when presented in the style of a wreath, it still provides a “wow” factor. It looks so good that it’s perfect to use as your table centrepiece. And I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of a centrepiece that is edible. For a start, there’s one less piece of Christmas décor to store after the festivities are over!
About the Caprese Salad:
In Italy, this traditional salad is known as Insalata Caprese, which roughly translates as “salad of Capri”.
The best Caprese Salad starts with the best ingredients. In its basic form, there are just 6 ingredients; tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
This is a recipe for summer; this is when tomatoes are at peak perfection. For the best flavour you will need to find tomatoes which are perfectly ripe, sweet and juicy.
The cheese for a Caprese Salad is fresh mozzarella. Look for good quality mozzarella. There is generally just four ingredients; milk (cow or water buffalo), salt, rennet and starter cultures.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Fresh basil – for the wreath, we use fresh basil leaves. Basil is a delicate herb which bruises easily. When selecting basil, look for vibrant green leaves with no dark spots or signs of bruising.
Although it is often suggested that basil should not be refrigerated, I have found that the most successful way to store it for a day or two is to wrap the stems in damp kitchen paper, loosely cover the basil with a plastic bag and stand it in the door of the refrigerator.
My best advice is to not buy basil until the last moment and do not wash the leaves until you are ready to use them.
Small bocconcini balls – bocconcini are balls of fresh mozzarella. They are white, semi-soft and rindless with a sweet, mild flavour. The yellow ball of mozzarella which is often used on pizza is not suitable for this salad.
They come in various sizes from those about the size of a tennis ball to those the size of a cherry. I have selected the size which is similar to the size of the cherry tomatoes.
They are readily available in supermarkets, either sold loose or in a plastic tub. They are generally sold in a brine solution which helps maintain their freshness.
My preference is to buy the bocconcini which are in a sealed, plastic tub as they have a longer shelf-life and their use-by date assures me of their freshness. After opening the tub, they should be used within a day or two.
Cherry tomatoes – I have chosen to use cherry tomatoes as they reach a higher concentration of naturally occurring sugars than large tomatoes. In addition, they also have lower acidity, which makes them a popular choice. They are sweet and juicy yet have a slight tartness, the two contrasting tastes combining beautifully.
When purchasing tomatoes, look for those that are fully ripe. They will be a vibrant red and still be firm to the touch. Avoid those with dark spots or wrinkles. The little red orbs will add a decorative note to your Caprese Christmas Wreath.
To maintain the best flavour, store them at room temperature. Storing them in the refrigerator will dull the flavour.
Extra virgin olive oil – as always, to obtain the best flavour when a salad has few ingredients it is essential to use the best quality.
Sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper – your Caprese Wreath should be seasoned to taste. For the best flavour it is important to use sea salt. Sea salt is naturally produced, using a method of evaporation to extract the salt. There is minimal, if any, processing required.
Step by step instructions:
First, I select a large white platter.
Then, I lay a garland of basil leaves around the perimeter of the platter. Randomly and decoratively place cherry tomatoes and bocconcini balls on the basil leaves. It’s as simple as that, you can’t get it wrong.
The salad can be prepared to this stage if making slightly in advance. If making it early and it needs to be refrigerated, just ensure that it is returned to room temperature for serving.
Just before serving, drizzle the salad with extra virgin olive oil and season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Tips for success and FAQs:
Although this Caprese Christmas Wreath is easy to prepare, I have several tips to help you make it as delicious as those you will find in Italy.
My best advice with a dish is as simple as this one, is that it is essential to use the best ingredients.
The cherry tomatoes must be fully ripe, a vibrant shade of red. Although ripe, they should still have a firmness when touched. And please, don’t refrigerate tomatoes as it dulls their flavour. Ideally, store your tomatoes at room temperature.
The basil leaves must be fresh and unblemished, the bocconcini should be about the size of the cherry tomatoes.
For the best flavour, use extra virgin olive oil and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Yes, you can. If you have larger tomatoes of excellent quality and flavour, they will be delicious. Just slice them and arrange decoratively on the platter.
You can prepare it up to the stage of adding the olive oil and seasoning. If you are preparing it hours in advance you will need to refrigerate the salad. Be sure to bring it to room temperature to serve. Add the olive oil and seasoning just prior to serving.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
Fresh tomatoes are a favourite ingredient to use in our household. Here are some more recipes we love:
- Caprese Bread Tartlets
- Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
- Quinoa Tabouli
- Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
- Crispy Baked Parmesan Tomatoes
- Marinated Tomato Salad
- Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Fresh Tomato Salsa
If you have not tried it before, you will discover that our Caprese Christmas Wreath is a perfect combination of vibrant, fresh flavours and is an ideal addition to your festive table. Not only is the shape seasonally appropriate, like Pizza Margherita, it displays the three colours of the Italian flag, red, white and green.
If you need to prepare something that’s quick, tasty, and still “Christmassy” this will fit the bill. Not traditional, but still delicious, is to serve the Caprese salad with a drizzle of our Balsamic Glaze.
Have some crusty Italian bread, or Foccacia on hand to mop up any juices. Caprese Salad goes deliciously with my Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Shells.
If you are after another festive idea, be sure to also try our Smoked Salmon Wreath.
I would love to hear from you in the comments below when you try this Caprese Christmas Wreath!
Alex xx
Caprese Christmas Wreath
Please note:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch basil See Note 1
- 100 g (3.5 ounces) baby bocconcini balls See Note 2
- 250 g (8.8 ounces) cherry tomatoes
- 30 ml (1 ยฝ tbsp) extra virgin olive oil See Note 3
- sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper – to taste See Note 4
- balsamic glaze – to serve, optional
Instructions
- For an attractive presentation and the maximum effect, choose a large, white platter.
- Gently wash and dry the basil.Remove the basil leaves from the stems and arrange decoratively around the edge of the platter.
- Arrange the cherry tomatoes and bocconcini on the basil leaves.
- The salad can be prepared to this stage a little in advance. If you do refrigerate it, ensure that it has returned to room temperature prior to serving.If preparing the salad in advance, do not season with salt and pepper or add the olive until just prior to serving.When ready to serve, season to taste and drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil.
Notes
- Fresh basil bruises easily so it is important to handle it gently.
- Bocconcini are balls of fresh mozzarella, found in the refrigerator section at your supermarket. They range in size through large, medium and the very small, cherry sized ones that I have used here. The measurements are by weight.
- In Australia, the tablespoon is 20 ml or 4 teaspoons. In many other countries, the tablespoon is 15 ml or 3 teaspoons. You may have to adjust the recipe accordingly.
- For the best flavour, I recommend that you use sea salt. My preference is Maldon sea salt; as well as flavour, the flakes provide some texture.
- Please note, the nutritional information is based on this being enjoyed as four servings. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Mary Sustaita
do we use large spoon to serve
Alexandra Cook
Hi Mary,
I use a large spoon and fork (salad servers) for this one. ๐
Let me know if you give the recipe a try! Alex xo
Kaye
Loved this! So festive and easy to make. Was a big hit at our Christmas dinner party tonight. Thank you for the recipe!
Alexandra Cook
Thank you so much, Kaye ๐ I am so thrilled to hear this!
Merry Christmas, Alex xo
Sarah
If serving as an appetizer, do you just leave toothpicks out? Or do you serve with crackers/baguettes, etc.?
Alexandra Cook
Hi Sarah!
Yes, they’re both great ideas! It will depend on what else you’re having, but we usually do either toothpicks or serve with some crusty bread. ๐
I hope you’ll enjoy! Alex xo
Ana Pinheiro
Greetings from Portugal, excellent suggestion for the holidays!!
Alexandra Cook
Thank you, Ana! ๐ Enjoy, Alex xo
Herman Jongeling
Magnificent, easy and tasty.
My 6yo granddaughter prepared this dish for our 2022 Christmas table. This recipe is a keeper!
Alexandra
Hi Herman, thank you for your lovely comments on the Caprese Christmas Wreath. I am delighted that you enjoyed it and congratulations to your granddaughter for her excellent help. ๐
Sherry
looks lovely. merry christmas.
Alexandra
Hi Sherry, I am glad you like the Caprese Wreath, thank you. And Merry Christmas to you too. ๐
Jules
This will be my third year in a row making this. Love it – always gets tonnes of praise and is so simple to put together.
Thank you, and a merry Christmas in advance!
Alexandra
Hi Jules!
Thank you so much for the kind words – wishing you all the best for a Merry Christmas also!
Kind regards, Alex
Audrey
Beautiful and easy! I love this.
Alexandra
Thank you, Audrey!
Gavin
LOVE IT!!! Itโs looks so great and caprese is one of my fav salads – some ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, drizzled in olive oil and mozzarella – the best!
Alexandra
Thanks, Gavin!
Allison
So cool!!!
Alexandra
Thanks so much!
Karen
This is so pretty and easy! I LOVE fresh basil!
Alexandra
Thank you, Karen – me too!!
Yolanda
This is so simple yet so brilliant! I love this dish anyway, but with the wreath design I bet it goes down so well at parties!
Alexandra
Thank you so much, Yolanda!! Just a little festive twist on an already delicious dish ๐
Mansi
This looks so innovative! Have to try this Christmas!
Alexandra
Thanks, Mansi! ๐
Gladys Nava
Oh my goodness! This is something unique! I really love the idea of this one. Love it โค๏ธ
Alexandra
Thank you so much, Gladys! So kind of you to say ๐
Peter
Oh my gosh this is genius! Fantastically cute and delicious haha, love it!
Alexandra
Oh, thank you so much, Peter! ๐