Green beans Caprese is a quick and easy side dish loaded with bright, fresh flavors! The Caprese classic combo of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil is paired with lightly steamed green beans and topped with an easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette!
I’m always looking for new ways to liven up some of our favorite go-to vegetables.
And green beans need a little help, in my opinion.
Broccoli? Steam and serve and I’m a happy lady. Spinach? Make it a salad or saute it and I’m all set.
Green beans are also on our regular rotation for a healthy vegetable side dish, but I tend to do more with them to add a little flavor.
(See my green beans with mustard butter sauce, green beans gremolata and Southern-style green beans with bacon and buttery breadcrumbs for other ideas!)
And this green beans Caprese, well, this takes them over the top!
It’s basically a Caprese salad with lightly steamed green beans, all covered in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
(You could of course use a store-bought version, but this one takes just minutes to make and shake up in a jar!)
And it's so quick and easy to make!
Plus, you can make this green bean salad ahead of time and let it sit for a bit, so it’s perfect for summer picnics or potluck parties.
OK, I've got a few quick notes about this recipe.
If you'd rather skip to the recipe, scroll on down to the recipe card below. It's just above the comments section.
Ingredient Notes:
- Green beans: I tend to use regular green beans, but the thin French style green beans would be great here, too. Just cut back on the steaming time for those so they don't get too cooked. We want them tender but with a bit of crunch.
- Tomatoes: I adore heirloom tomatoes when I can get good ones in the summertime. If those aren't available, feel free to substitute vine tomatoes or roma tomatoes.
- Mozzarella: You can use small fresh mozzarella balls or use a larger one and slice or tear it into pieces.
- Dressing: I adore this super easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette, but you could use a store-bought balsamic vinaigrette if you prefer.
As you can see, it's a really simple side dish that can be adapted in a few different ways to suit your needs.
And I'm sure you're going to love this new fun twist on green beans.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Green Beans Caprese
Ingredients
- ¾ pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 large (or 2 medium) heirloom tomatoes, sliced
- 8-12 small mozzarella balls, in liquid, drained and sliced in half
- ¼ cup fresh basil, julienned
For the balsamic vinaigrette:
- ½ clove minced garlic
- 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Steam green beans for 5-7 minutes, until tender but still bright green. Rinse green beans in cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Make the balsamic vinaigrette. Combine the garlic, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper in a small jar. Shake well. Or combine in a small bowl and whisk very well until combined.
- Cut tomato in ¼ inch slices and arrange on the outside of a plate. Cut mozzarella balls in half and sprinkle over tomato slices, reserving a few for the top of the green beans.
- Sprinkle the basil over the tomato and mozzarella.
- Arrange green beans in the middle of the plate on top of the tomatoes.
- Pour balsamic vinaigrette over the whole thing, reserving a bit to use for serving. Let sit for a few minutes to soak up the flavors.
- When ready to serve, top with the remaining vinaigrette and any remaining mozzarella and basil.
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