Delicious Caprese Sandwich with Fresh Mozzarella and Basil

The picnic season is here! We are enjoying a beautiful spring here in Kansas City. Our homemade tomatoes will not be ready for a while, but I’ll share my favorite picnic sandwich with you, as I can now find great tomatoes in the store.

This caprese sandwich recipe is inspired by the classic Caprese salad. It contains ripe red tomatoes and sliced fresh mozzarella with the most irresistible creamy basil sauce. For extra flavor, I also added some balsamic vinegar and a small handful of arugula.

Sandwich all this in a crispy French baguette bread, and you have a perfectly portable sandwich for picnics or road trips. Or enjoy it at home for a quick meal from now until the end of the tomato season this fall.

This tomato and mozzarella sandwich is a great vegetarian sandwich that contains a surprising amount of protein thanks to the cheese. This recipe is my homemade version of my favorite sandwich at our local French café. They just put it back on the menu, so I’m glad that I can order it there or make it at home. Now you can too.

Caprese Sandwich Ingredients

Remember, the better the bread and tomatoes, the better the sandwich will be! Here’s what you need:

Baguette

French baguette is perfect for this sandwich, or you can use any quality bread that you already have at home.

Homemade Creamy Basil Sauce

You will fall in love with this sauce! It is easy to whisk in a food processor or by hand, if you prefer. You will need mayonnaise, fresh basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Leftover sauce makes a nice vegetarian DIP.

Thick balsamic vinegar

The spicy balsamic vinegar forms an irresistible contrast to the creaminess of the sauce and mozzarella. We need to use a thick balsamic vinegar here (the normal liquid type will make your sandwich moist).

I love the Grand Reserve Balsamic Vinegar from Napa Valley Naturals -make sure you have the bottle with “25 stars” on it. It costs less than $10 and is usually available at natural grocers and other well-stocked grocery stores. Or buy balsamic glaze (DeLallo makes one) or make your own balsamic glaze.

Roquette

Arugula offers a light crunch and a fresh, peppery taste. I love it, but you can ignore it if you don’t.

Mozzarella cheese

Use a scoop of mozzarella that is different from the semi-skimmed block of mozzarella that you buy for pizza. For the best taste, opt for a scoop of mozzarella that is packed in water and not vacuum sealed.

Ripe tomatoes

In particular, look for medium-sized juicy red tomatoes. You will really shine in this sandwich.