A fresh and filling caprese sandwich is the comfort lunch you have been looking for. With one easy switch, you can make it vegetarian to add to your meatless meals.
A simple Caprese sandwich deserves the best tomatoes. It’s just not the same without a ripe, bright red tomato which means that this is the perfect summer harvest recipe. If you have tomatoes in your garden or plan to grow them this summer you’ll want to save this recipe.
Not only is this a super easy sandwich it will burst in your mouth with bright and refreshing flavours. This will become your go-to summer lunch!
The last point I’ll make about this sandwich before we get to making it is that it’s such a pretty sandwich. Make this for your next lunch or brunch get-together and your guests will be very impressed.
Preparing a Caprese Sandwich
Ingredients
Ciabatta Buns: A light and fluffy bread with a slightly golden crust, ciabatta is fluffy and airy and has a hint of sweetness despite being a savoury bread. It is an Italian bread that was invented in the 1980s. It’s perfect for sandwiches, crostini or as a side to your favourite saucy pasta dish.
Butter: Butter is churned milk or cream and is high in fat. It is solidified when refrigerated, holds a semi-soft, spreadable consistency at room temperature, or can be liquefied when heated.
Mozzarella: Mozzarella is a stretched curd cheese. Though there are many varieties, for this recipe I use pizza mozzarella. It has a mild flavour and melts into a stringy texture. Â
Balsamic vinegar: A dark concentrated vinegar originating in Italy, balsamic vinegar is made from grapes and has a tangy flavour. It has a hint of sweetness and is great in dressings and marinades. It can also be cooked down to a concentrate that is more sweet than tangy that is perfect drizzled over pizzas, flatbreads or berries.
Olive oil: I use olive oil for this recipe because of its mild flavour. Olive oil is the fat extracted from olives. The least processed is extra virgin olive oil, which I use in this recipe.
Italian Seasoning: Italian seasoning is a mixture of multiple spices. Typically it includes oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary and marjoram.
Prosciutto: This uncooked meat is dry-cured and usually sliced very thinly. This ham is made of the backside or leg of the pig and is a very delicate meat often framed by a layer of delicate fat.
Salami: A dry cured meat typically made from pork or sometimes pork and beef. This salami has a relatively mild almost tangy flavour and chewy texture.
Tomato: Tomatoes are actually a fruit, despite most people believing them to be vegetables. For this recipe we use tomatoes on the vine. They are larger tomatoes sold still attached to the vine. They are the perfect size for slicing and have a slightly sweet flavour when fully ripe. They contain vitamins C, E and A and are a great addition to any sandwich, burger or wrap. Â
Garlic clove:
Garlic is a bulb that is edible and is grown in soil. Though the green shoots it sprouts, called garlic scapes, are also edible, we are referring to the actual bulb that the scapes grow from. Garlic bulbs are made up of multiple cloves and depending on the variety you may have anywhere from 4 to 10 cloves, if not more. This is important to know because recipes will often call for a specific number of cloves which can vary in size greatly.
Basil leaves: Basil, also called sweet basil, is an annual herb that is grown for its fragrant leaves. It is part of the mint family and is native to Asia. It is used in cooking all over the world for its slightly sweet and very distinct flavour.
How to Make a Caprese Sandwich
Start by preheating the oven to 350ËšF.
Step 1: Toast the buns
Now let’s get the buns ready. Cut the buns in half and place them cut-side down on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. We are going to toast these in the preheated oven for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Prep the toppings
While the buns are toasting, wash and slice the tomato. Next, slice the mozzarella cheese. I use a ball of pizza mozzarella but of course buffalo mozzarella is also a fantastic choice.
Also, peel the garlic clove and cut it in half, if using, and wash the basil.
Lastly, mix the oil, balsamic vinegar and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
Step 3: Assemble the sandwich
Once the buns are toasted, remove the sheet pan from the oven. flip the bottom parts of the bun over and move the tops aside. Butter the bottom halves of each bun and rub each half with the cut side of one half of the garlic clove.
Place the mozzarella cheese slices on the buttered bun halves and put them back in the oven for another 3 minutes.
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and assemble the rest of the sandwich. Top the cheese with prosciutto, salami and tomato. You can also add salt and pepper at this point if you like.
Substitutions
Cured meats:Â If you are looking to make this a vegetarian caprese sandwich all you have to do is skip the meat. I assure you that this sandwich is just as delicious and even more refreshing without the prosciutto and salami.Â
Mozzarella: You can use either pizza mozzarella or buffalo mozzarella for this caprese sandwich however I do recommend the buffalo variety, especially if you are making a vegetarian caprese sandwich.Â
Serving a Caprese Sandwich
The caprese sandwich is a whole meal. I guarantee you will be full and satisfied with this lunch without any special sides. Plate this sandwich open-faced for extra effect and watch your family drool with excitement.
Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions. And if you like this recipe be sure to leave us a five-star rating below.Â
Are you looking for dinner ideas? Check out our recipes:
Easy Caprese Sandwich Recipe
Equipment
- Knife
Ingredients
- 2 Ciabatta Buns
- 100 g Mozzarella
- 1 Tomato
- 4-6 Basil leaves
- 1 tsp Balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp Olive oil
- ¼ tsp Italian Seasoning
- 2 slices of prosciutto optional, see substitutions
- 6 slices salami optional, see substitutions
- 1 tsp butter optional
- 1 garlic clove optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- Cut the buns in half and place them cut-side down on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet2 Ciabatta Buns
- Bake for 5 minutes
- While buns are toasting, slice the mozzarella and tomato, and mix the oil, balsamic and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Also, peel the garlic clove and cut it in half, if using, and wash the basil.100 g Mozzarella, 1 Tomato, 1 tsp Balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp Olive oil, ¼ tsp Italian Seasoning, 1 garlic clove, 4-6 Basil leaves
- Once the buns are toasted, remove the sheet pan from the oven. flip the bottom parts of the bun over and move the tops to the side. Butter the bottom halves of each bun and rub each half with the cut side of one half of the garlic clove.1 tsp butter, 1 garlic clove
- Place the mozzarella on the buttered bun halves and put them back in the oven for another 3 minutes.100 g Mozzarella
- Remove the pan from the oven and assemble the rest of the sandwich. Tops the cheese with prosciutto, salami and tomato. You can add salt and pepper at this point if you like2 Ciabatta Buns, 100 g Mozzarella, 1 Tomato, 4-6 Basil leaves, 1 tsp Balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp Olive oil, 2 slices of prosciutto, 6 slices salami, ¼ tsp Italian Seasoning
