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close up of a cut up caprese toast showing the blistered tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves drizzled with some olive oil and light balsamic syrup

Caprese Toast

Inspired by the classic Italian Caprese salad, this Caprese Toast layers juicy blistered tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil on crisp artisan bread. We love a finish of olive oil, balsamic glaze and chilli flakes. It's a quick breakfast, lunch, or snack that feels gourmet but comes together in under 10 minutes!
Course Appetizer, Bread, Breakfast, brunch, lunch, Snack, toast
Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword caprese, Caprese recipes, Caprese Toast, Toast, Toast recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 899 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Toast

  • 4 Sourdough toast largest size

Caprese Mixture

  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 3 garlic cloves Smashed
  • 2 thyme sprigs
  • 1/2 cup olive oil extra virgin olive o il
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes optional

Assemble

  • 1 burrata cheese or fresh mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup basil leaves
  • 1-2 Tablespoons balsamic glaze

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Tomato Mixture
  2. You'll need a baking dish or baking sheet. Add to it the tomatoes, whole garlic cloves, lots of olive oil, thyme and season.
    The baby tomatoes, whole crushed garlic cloves, lots of olive oil and fresh thyme are added to a baking dish
  3. Bake the tomato mixture until it has blistered and the garlic cloves have turned soft and golden. This takes 15 minutes.
  4. You can optionally broil the mixture for a charred taste.
  5. Once out of the oven, add in your fresh mozzarella cheese in slices. Or add in Burrata cheese for a Burrata Caprese.
    the tomatoes out of the oven softened and ready to add mozzarella
  6. Spread over Toast
  7. Toast the bread. Use a toaster, grill pan, or oven until golden and crisp. This helps the bread absorb the sweet and juicy tomato mixture.
  8. Assemble the toast by using a spoon and spread the sweet tomato, olive oil and cheese over the bread.
    close up of a warm tomato, mozzarella, basil and chilli flakes mixture to spread over the toast
  9. Tear up some fresh basil leaves and add between the cheese and tomatoes.
    one whole caprese toast close up showing the sourdough toast, the ripe sweet baby tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic, basil leaves and chilli flakes drizzled with olive oil
  10. Finish with a good drizzle of the garlic olive oil and balsamic glaze. Sprinkle salt, black pepper and chili flakes on top.
  11. Cut the toast into halves if it's a larger loaf, otherwise keep it as is. ENJOY!
    Each toast is cut into two smaller toasts with the juicy tomatoes, cheese and basil on top

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Caprese Toast Tips

  1. Use seasonal sweet tomatoes for the best flavor. You can use any type you prefer, and make sure to use equal slices of tomato if using larger ones.
  2. For the cheese, you can use Burrata or fresh Mozzarella cheese. Use room temperature cheese for the best creamy texture.
  3. Baking the tomatoes with whole garlic coves in olive oil enhances the flavor of the tomatoes. It also creates a garlicky olive oil base to drizzle over the caprese toast. You can skip this step, but it makes a huge difference.
  4. Use a generous amount of seasoning to bring out flavors.
  5. Balsamic glaze adds depth and sweetness. You can find store bought balsamic glaze at your local grocery store.
  6. The type of bread and toast you use matters dramatically! A thin bread will be soggy, and an extra thick or hard bread will be hard to eat.
  7. Ideally you can use pre-cut sourdough slices or a baguette. The baguette bread will be more of a crostini than toast, but it offers an awesome texture.
  8. Remember to toast your bread to soak up all the juicy tomatoes and olive oil.

What is Caprese toast made of?

Caprese toast is made of toasted bread of your choice topped with Caprese salad ingredients. So fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic glaze. This is the basic version and you can twist it endlessly!

What kind of bread is best for Caprese toast?

Use thick, pre-cut hearty breads like sourdough, ciabatta, or a country-style loaf. These hold the toppings well and offer the perfect crunch.

Can I use cherry tomatoes?

Yes! We have used these today actually! Whole roasted cherry or grape tomatoes are great for a sweet, juicy bite and add beautiful color.

Is Caprese toast healthy?

It depends what your idea of healthy is. It is definitely a clean recipe with simple and fresh ingredients. It’s also vegetarian and Mediterranean-diet friendly.

Can I make this ahead of time?

To make this ahead of time, avoid assembling the toast. Toast bread and store toppings separately until serving and assemble just before eating to avoid sogginess.

What protein can I add to Caprese toast?

If you have cooked chicken, it will be similar to our Chicken Caprese. You can likewise add poached or fried eggs for a sinful breakfast or brunch. To keep it fully vegetarian, you can add tofu.

Nutrition Facts
Caprese Toast
Amount Per Serving
Calories 899 Calories from Fat 342
% Daily Value*
Fat 38g58%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g
Monounsaturated Fat 21g
Cholesterol 0.2mg0%
Sodium 2885mg125%
Potassium 712mg20%
Carbohydrates 162g54%
Fiber 11g46%
Sugar 24g27%
Protein 50g100%
Vitamin A 506IU10%
Vitamin C 19mg23%
Calcium 255mg26%
Iron 19mg106%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.