The Simple Way To Upgrade Caprese Salad

Caprese salad is a colorful summer appetizer rich in Italian heritage (via Visit Naples). Already close to perfect for its refreshing taste and simple elegance, the Italian salad, also known as Insalata Caprese, is famous for its few simple ingredients. Only three things makeup its contents: fresh beefsteak tomatoes, creamy, sliced mozzarella cheese, and a handful of handpicked basil leaves — an ode to some of Italy's finest ingredients. Top it with a sprinkle of salt and pepper for the seasonings and a drizzle of olive oil, and you have an easy yet refined-tasting dish.

Many purists argue that you shouldn't mess with the classics, but sometimes things can benefit from a friendly upgrade, Caprese salad included. These flavors and textures are already so good on their own, a mix of tastes both mild and refreshing. But what if there was an ingredient that could enhance those flavors even more? 

Tales of this Italian food have spread like wildfire throughout history, each contradicting the other. The only thing we know for sure about Caprese salad is where it comes from geographically. The name means "Salad of Capri," and the dish hails from an island off the coast of Naples sometime in the early 1900s (via Eat & Walk Italy). Moving onto the many myths behind this appetizer, here are some of the most popular and widely accepted tales.

According to Eat & Walk Italy, the dish has its origins in World War I. The legend goes that a patriotic Italian mason made this dish as a sandwich to honor the colors of the Italian flag. That tale is especially popular, but The Sun shares a different theory. They say it appeared in the 20th century as a dish that was served to royalty and other influential people on vacation. La Cucina Italiana also mentions this tale, saying the salad was first seen on a menu at the Hotel Quisisana in Capri for a dinner honoring artists in the Futurism movement.

That's just a handful of stories, and there are many other tales yet. Whatever the true story is behind Insalata Caprese, the mystery might just add to its charm. Many people just love the classic Caprese salad recipe as is and may refuse to even consider adding anything to it. However, it doesn't hurt to experiment with some potentially delicious combinations.

Although chefs have long been experimenting with changes to Caprese salad in subtle ways, swapping beefsteak tomatoes for dried or opting for sharper cheeses, what if you took it a step further? With a whole new setup of ingredients, adding fruit might make you change how you prepare it for good. For your next picnic, consider making the very refreshing watermelon Caprese salad.

For this new take, professional chef Gregorio DiMarco recommends a complete renovation of the dish entirely (via The Takeout). Starting with a bed of leafy greens, he swaps out the salad's tomatoes with watermelon. This gives the familiar mild taste a subtly sweet new edge. Adding in cucumber to contrast with the soft bite of watermelon and using a different cheese could heighten the flavors of this new dish, too. Try opting for feta instead of mozzarella. Swap the basil for mint, and Chef DiMarco finishes it all off with a marinade of lemon, mint, and sumac as the final addition. 

This take on Caprese Salad leaves the dish's signature vibrant colors but gives it a whole new taste. If you're not a big fan of watermelon, try adding some juicy peaches into the mix for a peach Caprese salad recipe. Whatever fruit you feel passionate about, there are many simple ways to upgrade the dish. Who knows, maybe you'll end up creating flavors just as iconic and mysterious as the original in the process.