The Secret to Making Caprese Work Long After Summer Ends

Summer may be waving goodbye, but your farmers’ market tomatoes are just hitting that sweet, juicy stride. You know the kind: bursting with flavor, slightly sun-warmed, practically begging to be layered with mozzarella and basil. Yes, it’s Caprese season—and if you think this love affair ends after Labor Day, think again.

Caprese is more than a salad; it’s an attitude. The “less is more” energy that makes August dinners easy, breezy, and a little smug because all you had to do was slice and drizzle. But here’s the secret: Caprese can absolutely hang with fall flavors. Think of it as the seasonal fling that got serious.

So let’s keep the romance alive a little longer.

1. Swap Basil for Fall Herbs

Basil may be delicate, but rosemary, sage, and thyme are made for sweater weather. Roast cherry tomatoes with garlic and thyme, then serve them still-warm over mozzarella. Suddenly, you’ve got cozy Caprese.

2. Bring On the Roasting

Fresh slices are great in July, but once there’s a chill in the air? Toss tomatoes in olive oil, roast until caramelized, and pile them on mozzarella with a splash of balsamic. The deeper flavor feels right at home next to a pumpkin spice latte.

3. Add Squash to the Mix

Yes, squash. Roasted butternut or delicata slices layered with tomatoes and cheese bring autumn vibes without betraying the tomato that carried you all summer. Bonus points if you drizzle with brown butter.

4. Make It a Toast Topper

Nothing says transitional eating like a toast. Pile roasted tomatoes, mozzarella, and a handful of arugula onto a slab of sourdough. Toast Caprese is basically the lovechild of your August salad and your October need for carbs.

5. Lean Into the Cheese

Summer Caprese is about restraint. Fall Caprese? Let it be indulgent. Trade fresh mozzarella for burrata (oozy, luxurious) or even smoked mozzarella (hello, fireplace vibes).

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Your tomatoes worked hard to get this good—don’t leave them stranded at the end of summer. Pair them with the flavors of fall, and suddenly Caprese isn’t just a fleeting fling; it’s a year-round romance.