Mediterranean Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Fresh, colorful, and incredibly easy to make, this Mediterranean Tomato Mozzarella Salad is one of those recipes that comes together in minutes but has so much flavor.

Juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, creamy mozzarella, artichokes, hearts of palm, black olives, and fresh basil are tossed with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a simple salad that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, cookouts, or meal prep.

It's naturally gluten-free and can easily be made dairy-free. Serve it as a side dish or add your favorite protein to turn it into a complete meal.

Mediterranean Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, diced

• 6 oz cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half

• 5 fresh mozzarella balls, broken into bite-sized pieces, or 10 small mozzarella balls

• 15 small black olives

• 1 small jar marinated hearts of palm and artichokes, drained

• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

• ½ teaspoon Himalayan or sea salt, or to taste

• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Add the cucumber, tomatoes, mozzarella, black olives, hearts of palm, artichokes, and fresh basil to a large serving bowl.

2. Season with the salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning and gently toss everything together.

3. Cover and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.

4. Just before serving, drizzle the salad with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.

5. Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, or balsamic vinegar if needed.

6. Serve chilled or at room temperature and enjoy!

Turn It Into a Complete Meal

This salad makes a delicious side dish on its own, but it's incredibly easy to turn it into a balanced meal.

Try adding:

• 4–6 oz grilled chicken

• 4–6 oz grilled steak

• 4–6 oz grilled salmon

• 4–6 oz shrimp

If I'm having this as my main meal, I like adding a generous serving of protein. It makes the salad much more satisfying while still keeping dinner simple.

Make It Dairy-Free

To make this salad dairy-free, simply leave out the mozzarella.

You can enjoy it exactly as is or add ½ avocado, diced, for a little extra creaminess and healthy fat.

Make It Ahead

This is an easy recipe to prep ahead for a busy week.

Chop the vegetables and combine them with the olives, artichokes, hearts of palm, mozzarella, and basil. Store the salad covered in the refrigerator and wait to add the olive oil and balsamic vinegar until shortly before serving.

If you're using it for meal prep, you can also portion the salad into individual containers and keep the dressing separate.

💡 Dr. Stephanie's Tip: Don't skip the fresh basil! It adds so much flavor that you really don't need a complicated dressing.

A good-quality extra virgin olive oil + balsamic vinegar + fresh basil is one of my favorite combinations for an easy summer salad.

And if you're eating this as a meal rather than a side dish, add 4–6 ounces of protein to make it more balanced and satisfying.

A Simple, Fresh Gluten-Free Recipe

Healthy eating doesn't need to involve complicated recipes or hours in the kitchen.

This Mediterranean Tomato Mozzarella Salad takes just a few minutes to prepare and gives you a delicious combination of fresh vegetables, healthy fats, herbs, and plenty of flavor.

Pair it with grilled chicken, steak, salmon, or shrimp for an easy weeknight dinner, or serve it as a colorful side dish at your next cookout.

Save this recipe for the next time you need a quick and easy meal, and check out my other gluten-free recipes for more healthy meal inspiration.