Pearly Strand Mozzarella Salad (Printer View)

Mozzarella pearls blend with cherry tomatoes, basil, and arugula for a fresh, flavorful, Italian-inspired salad.

# What You'll Need:

→ Produce

01 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
02 - 1 cup baby arugula
03 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

→ Cheese

04 - 1 cup mozzarella pearls (ciliegine), drained

→ Dressings & Oils

05 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze

→ Seasonings

07 - 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Method Steps:

01 - Arrange baby arugula evenly on a large serving platter.
02 - Scatter halved cherry tomatoes and fresh basil leaves over the arugula.
03 - Drape mozzarella pearls in a continuous strand or curve across the salad, resting atop the other ingredients.
04 - Drizzle extra virgin olive oil evenly over the salad, followed by a delicate drizzle of balsamic glaze.
05 - Sprinkle flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper evenly to taste.
06 - Present as a fresh, visually striking appetizer or side dish.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely foolproof, even for someone who once served salad with the dressing bottle still sealed.
  • Those little mozzarella pearls burst with warm creaminess against the cool, peppery greens in a way that feels unexpectedly luxurious.
  • You can have it on the table in less time than it takes to brew coffee, perfect for when you need something beautiful but have zero energy.
02 -
  • Mozzarella pearls are heat-sensitive; if you let them sit at room temperature for more than a few minutes, they'll lose their shape and become a melted mess instead of a textural centerpiece.
  • Don't dress this salad more than five minutes before serving, as the acid in the balsamic will eventually wilt the arugula and make the tomatoes weep.
03 -
  • Keep your mozzarella pearls in the coldest part of your refrigerator until the absolute last moment, and consider laying them on the salad no more than two minutes before serving.
  • If you're serving this at a gathering where timing is uncertain, dress everything except the mozzarella and balsamic in advance, then add those final two elements right before presenting.
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