These Caprese Salad Sandwiches are inspired by one of my favorite sandwiches at a local restaurant and they definitely satisfied all my cravings! These fresh Caprese Salad Sandwiches are quick and easy to make and great for a work lunch or a picnic luncheon!
These Caprese Salad Sandwiches were inspired by a very similar sandwich I get at a local pizza place. The caprese salad has tons of flavor and it goes so well in a toasted roll with some pesto. These sandwiches are easy to make, but feel kinda fancy to me, like something that could be served at a summer luncheon or picnic.
Caprese salad is a quintessential summer dish and is even more fun to make when you have fresh tomatoes and basil growing in your garden. Summer is the time for quick and easy meals, and these caprese sandwiches are just that!
Caprese Salad Sandwich Recipe Ingredients
- Bread – I’m pretty sure the restaurant, where this sandwich is inspired from, uses hoagie style rolls made from the pizza dough and they are amazing! I was able to find some soft baguette style rolls and they worked perfectly! I like to toast them in the oven for a few minutes to make them a little crusty. You want some bread, or a roll, that will hold the salad inside the sandwich while you eat it, or else it could get a little messy!
- Mozzarella – I used the little balls of fresh mozzarella and just mixed them into the salad. You could also buy a big ball of fresh mozzarella and slice it into pieces to lay onto the sandwich, or cut it into chunks to mix into the salad. I would really recommend fresh mozzarella if you can get it.
- Lettuce – I used a spring mix for the lettuce in the sandwich. You can use any kind of lettuce you like. Spring mix does wilt pretty quickly once mixed with dressing, so if you are packing these sandwiches to eat later, I would suggest maybe using a more hearty lettuce, like romaine.
- Tomato – I used cherry tomatoes that I sliced in half. I like the pop of sweetness that they add and I usually get way more cherry tomatoes in my garden, than regular sized tomatoes. You can use any kind of tomato you like though.
- Roasted Red Pepper – Roasted red peppers aren’t traditional to caprese salad, but the restaurant adds them to the sandwich and they go well with the other ingredients.
- Onion – I used some thinly shaved red onion. I can’t remember if red onion was in the original sandwich, but I love it so I had to add some in. It adds a nice sharp flavor, if you enjoy raw onions.
- Dressing – I used a balsamic dressing that I just threw together quickly using, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard, maple syrup, granulated garlic, dried oregano, salt and pepper. Let me know if you would like a more detailed recipe! Store-bought balsamic vinaigrette would be great too. You could also just use olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
How To Make Easy Caprese Sandwiches
- Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cut your bread in half, if you can leave the two halves connected that is great, but if not it will still be ok. I like to hollow out the roll a little bit on both the top and the bottom. This will allow you to pack the sandwich with lots of the caprese salad!
- Brush each side of the bread with a little bit of olive oil and place in the pre-heated oven for 5-10 minutes, until bread is a little bit toasty. Allow bread to cool for a few minutes.
- Add the greens to a large bowl and then add in the tomatoes, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and red onion. You could also add fresh basil leaves if you like. Pour the balsamic dressing in and mix everything together well.
- Spread one side of the roll with a few spoonfuls of pesto and then spread the other side of the roll with some crushed Calabrian Chili peppers, if desired. Add a few heaping spoonfuls of the caprese salad to the bottom of the sandwich, pack it as full as you like, and then place the top of the sandwich on. Carefully cut sandwich in half and enjoy!
Caprese Sandwich Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Can this sandwich be made gluten free? Yes, you can easily use a gluten free roll or bread when making this sandwich.
- Is this caprese salad sandwich vegan? No, but you can use vegan mozzarella cheese to make it vegan. Miyoko’s Creamery has a great vegan mozzarella cheese that would go perfectly in this recipe.
- Can I just layer the ingredients rather than mix them up together in a salad? Yes, you can assemble this sandwich however you like. I’m making it just like the restaurant does that inspired this recipe.
- Can these sandwiches be made ahead of time? Yes, they can be made ahead of time, but keep in mind that spring mix doesn’t stay fresh for too long after mixing it with dressing. Romaine lettuce might be a better option if needing to make these sandwiches ahead of time.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Vegetarian Sandwich Recipes?
Greek Salad Sandwiches with Hummus
Balsamic Sweet Pepper and Boursin Sandwiches
Avocado Pesto Chickpea Sandwiches
Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
PrintCaprese Salad Sandwiches
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Caprese Salad Sandwiches are inspired by one of my favorite sandwiches at a local restaurant and they definitely satisfied all my cravings! These fresh Caprese Salad Sandwiches are quick and easy to make and great for a work lunch or a picnic luncheon!
Ingredients
- 2 cups lettuce, you can use spring mix, romaine, spinach or other greens of choice
- 1 cup sliced in half cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup mini fresh mozzarella balls, or chunks of fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers
- 1/2 thinly sliced red onion
- 2–3 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette, homemade or store-bought
- 1/4 cup prepared pesto
- 1–2 tablespoons crushed Calabrian Chile peppers, if desired
- 2 large hoagies or baguettes, recipe should make about 2 large sandwiches that can be cut in half and shared
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cut your bread in half, if you can leave the two halves connected that is great, but if not it will still be ok. I like to hollow out the roll a little bit on both the top and the bottom. This will allow you to pack the sandwich with lots of the caprese salad!
- Brush each side of the bread with a little bit of olive oil and place in the pre-heated oven for 5-10 minutes, until bread is a little bit toasty. Allow bread to cool for a few minutes.
- Add the greens to a large bowl and then add in the tomatoes, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and red onion. You could also add fresh basil leaves if you like. Pour the balsamic dressing in and mix everything together well.
- Spread one side of the roll with a few spoonfuls of pesto and then spread the other side of the roll with some crushed Calabrian Chili peppers, if desired. Add a few heaping spoonfuls of the caprese salad to the bottom of the sandwich, pack it as full as you like, and then place the top of the sandwich on. Carefully cut sandwich in half and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe makes enough for about two large sandwiches. A hoagie style roll or baguette is best for this recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Lunch, Vegetarian
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian Inspired
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