This fun take on the classic caprese salad is full of refreshing watermelon and bites of salty prosciutto. It comes together quickly – without using the stove – which makes it the perfect dish for warm weather entertaining!
The most refreshing salad EVER! Seriously, if you’re in need of some serious hydration in your life that’s more flavorful than good ol’ h20, this Watermelon Caprese Salad is going to hit the spot. The entire family will love this simple side dish that doesn’t require any cooking and comes together in less than 20 minutes. Need a hydrating drink to go with it? Try this Homemade Citrus Electrolyte Drink or this Hydrating Citrus Coconut Refresher!
Whether you’re grilling up some juicy burgers or sticking with simple grilled cheeses, this is a great way to round out the meal without slaving away in a hot kitchen.
Why This Recipe Works
- It uses next to no ingredients. The beauty of using fresh, high-quality ingredients is that you don’t have to use too many to make a dish taste spectacular.
- No heating elements required. When the summer heat is more than you can take, turn to this recipe to make something delicious without turning on an oven, slow cooker or stove.
- It comes together in under 20 minutes. Seriously, the longest step of the process will be cutting up your watermelon, which you can easily do in advance (or skip altogether if you purchase it pre-cut!)
- The entire family will love it. Because of the use of fan-favorite watermelon instead of the classic tomatoes, this dish will please even the pickiest of eaters.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Mini watermelon – You can find seedless mini watermelons at most grocery stores during the summer season. If you don’t want to bother with cutting up the melon yourself, buy pre-cut! You’ll want a total of around 5 cups, but the measurement doesn’t have to be exact.
Ciliegine – These are those mini mozzarella balls you find floating in brine in the cheese section. If you can’t find ciliegine, feel free to cut a block of regular mozzarella cheese into chunks.
Prosciutto – Buy the freshest, most delicious prosciutto you can find!
Fresh basil – A sprinkle of fresh basil truly makes this dish. It’s a great herb to grow yourself, but you can also find it at most grocery stores year-round.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This caprese salad requires almost no instruction at all – it is so easy! Simply add the main ingredients to a bowl…
- Watermelon first…
- Then ciliegine…
- Next, prosciutto…
- Finally, fresh basil!
Once all of these major ingredients are added to a bowl, season with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. It’s that easy!!
FAQs
You can combine all of the ingredients (except the balsamic glaze) up to a couple of hours in advance. You don’t want to do it much earlier than that because you don’t want your basil to turn brown. Drizzle with the balsamic glaze right before serving.
Store the salad covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
If you can’t find ciliegine (the little mozzarella balls), feel free to just cut some mozzarella cheese into chunks.
Yes! Simply omit the prosciutto.
Other Easy Recipes for Summer
Looking for more recipes that require minimal cooking and the freshest summer ingredients? Check these out!
Summer Kale Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Five-Ingredient Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Roll-Ups
Ahi Poke Pineapple Bites with Avocado Mousse
Quick-and-Easy Vanilla Chia Cantaloupe Jam
Mini No-Bake Fresh Mint Cheesecakes
The Most Refreshing Tropical Sangria
Tried this recipe and loved it?? Be sure to leave a comment and five-star rating in the recipe card below!
Watermelon Caprese Salad with Prosciutto
Ingredients
- 1 mini seedless watermelon, cubed
- 12 ounces ciliegine (mini mozzarella balls)
- 3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 5 ounces prosciutto, chopped
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Drizzle of balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the balsamic glaze to a large bowl and toss to combine.
- If watermelon was not pre-chilled before cutting, place salad in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
- Before serving, drizzle on balsamic glaze and garnish with whole basil leaves, if desired.
Notes
- Don’t make this dish more than a couple of hours in advance of serving, and wait until right before you serve it to drizzle on the balsamic glaze.
- That being said, if your watermelon isn’t already chilled before cutting into it, you will want to leave a little bit of time for refrigeration after prepping and before serving.
- To make this dish vegetarian, simply omit the prosciutto.
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