Looking for a vegan caprese salad recipe? Here's the best recipe I've found and the easiest to make! This 1-2-3 recipe under 20 minutes is full of flavor but contains no dairy or animal products at all.
If you love Caprese salad as much as I do, you’ll love this vegan version of a classic dish. It features ripe tomatoes, flavorful basil and thick silken tofu slices. And with just a few simple ingredients and easy preparation, you’ll have this dish ready in under 20 minutes!
Perfect for summer or as a side dish to any dinner, this vegan Caprese salad is a great dish for anyone looking for fresh flavors without resorting to the usual tomato-vegan mozzarella-basil combo. Enjoy!
First things first, let's talk about the origin of the word Caprese. While some might argue that the salad is named after the island of Capri, most people believe that it's actually named after the Italian town of Capri which is located on the Isle of Capri.
The word Caprese itself comes from the Latin word caput, meaning "head" or "chief". To properly pronounce the word, you would say: "ca-preese" with a long ee sound for the first e.
Whether you’re a diehard fan of classic Caprese or just want to try something new, I hope that this vegan version of the dish will become one of your favorites!
Caprese salad is a traditional Italian dish made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. It's usually seasoned with salt, pepper and olive oil.
The salad originates from Capri, which is located off the coast of Naples in southern Italy. Nowadays, Caprese salad is enjoyed all over the world and can be made using many different variations of ingredients.
However, regardless of the recipe or variation you're using, one thing will always remain constant: Caprese salad is a delicious dish that's perfect for any occasion!
Caprese salad is one of those dishes that’s done so often without variation, that it’s easy to forget how fantastic the real thing is. With all plant-based ingredients that are safe for vegan, vegetarian, and keto diets this version substitutes silken tofu for the mozzarella.
The tofu does the same job of providing a creamy counterpoint to the acid from the tomatoes and vinegar while adding a great source of protein.
If you have really terrific, fresh tomatoes (like from your garden), the tofu’s great because it amplifies the tomatoes delicious flavor.
This recipe is a creative take on David Chang’s Momofuku cookbook Caprese salad recipe with cherry tomatoes and silken tofu in a soy vinaigrette with shiso leaves.
In Chang’s version of a Caprese salad, (which is so delicious and can be seen here - including photos & the recipe) he uses a few ingredients we changed up for simplicity. Because Shiso leaves are not the easiest thing to find in most traditional supermarkets, I switched them out in favor of a more traditional Caprese-style salad.
The important thing here is the quality of your tomatoes – if they’re not great, the salad won’t be. Be sure to salt them first thing – you can let them sit for a while (up to 30 minutes), and they’ll only improve in flavor.
And you’ll definitely want to serve this with some delicious bread to soak up all the juices.
Hope you enjoy our take on a classic Caprese salad! What are some of your favorite plant-based recipes? Let us know in the comments.
Photos by Alfonso Revilla.
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
Teodora says
Caprese is always a good idea! Love this vegan option!
Andrea White says
So true! It's always a hit!
Gina H. says
Can't wait to give this recipe a try! My cheese-loving husband recently had to go dairy-free, so he's been missing his caprese. Looking forward to making this recipe for him!
Andrea White says
Hope he enjoys it! 🙂
Tina says
Ooo this Caprese salad sounds too good. Definitely perfect for summer!!
Andrea White says
Yesss! A great light but tasty dish!
Andrea White says
So good! Love the texture!
Ruth says
Hi Andrea,
I wanted to let you know that I tried this recipe and my family and I loved it. I was not sure about the tofu, but it turned out great. Thank you.
Andrea White says
Yay! So glad you and the family enjoyed it!
Kalin says
Such a great idea! And looks just like mozzarella when serving. Such a delicious dish!
Andrea White says
Yessss! So smooth and tasty!
Katie says
This is genius! I can't wait to give this recipe I try! I love silken tofu so I know I will be obsessed with this!
Andrea White says
Let us know what you think 🙂