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Celebrate warmer weather with this light and refreshing Japanese Caprese salad – ready in 15 minutes from start to finish!

This Japanese Caprese Salad recipe was created in connection with my appointment as a contributor to the Nakano Natural and Seasoned Rice Vinegar.

Japanese Caprese Salad

Name: Japanese Caprese Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 people
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 2 large tomatoes (cut into 1/4-inch thick slices); 8 ounces fresh mozzarella ball (cut into 1/4-inch thick slices); 6 basil leaves (hand torn into bite size pieces); 1/4 cup shallot (finely chopped, or onion); 2 tablespoons Nakano rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or Tamari for gluten free); 1 tablespoon sesame oil; salt and pepper to taste

Japanese onion dressing is probably my favorite dressing of all time. Up until not too long ago I would look for it in Japanese grocerie stores and restaurants, unaware of how easy it actually is to make at home.

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The combination of sweet, umami and slightly pungent flavors make it addictive and extremely versatile. I put it on chicken, meat, green salads and even fruit salads! The classic Japanese pairing for onion dressing is with beefsteak tomatoes.

Since I love Italian Caprese salad, I’ve fused both cuisines to create a deliciously refreshing Japanese Caprese salad.

The ingredients for the dressing are very easy to find: you’ll need a shallot (or an onion), soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and rice vinegar. If you cannot find rice vinegar at the supermarket, go to an Asian grocery store – they will definitely have it.

Rice vinegar is slightly sweeter than regular vinegar – closer to apple cider vinegar but without the fruity element.

I’m using Nakano rice vinegar because it’s a brand I trust and have been working with for ages (made by Mizkan – the most famous rice vinegar brand in Japan).

For this recipe, I am using their original flavor to keep the dressing as authentic as possible.

You can make the dressing ahead of time and keep it refrigerated for up to a week. This Japanese Caprese salad makes an excellent side dish to pasta or the perfect salad to take to your next barbecue.

Other delicious recipes made with rice vinegar:

Did you like this Japanese Caprese Salad Recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

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