Mahoney's Garden Center / Featured  / A Taste of Summer: Caprese Salad with Local Ingredients

August 4, 2025

A Taste of Summer: Caprese Salad with Local Ingredients

Few things taste more like summer than a Caprese salad. With juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, creamy mozzarella, and a drizzle of rich olive oil and balsamic—it’s simplicity at its most delicious. Whether you’ve grown your own tomatoes and basil or you’re looking to grab the best local ingredients, a Caprese salad is the perfect way to celebrate the season.

Farmstand Fresh: The Best Ingredients Make the Best Salads

At Mahoney’s, we’ve stocked everything you need to make a perfect Caprese—even if your garden didn’t quite keep up this year:

  • Fresh Local Tomatoes – Grown close to home, these beauties are picked at peak ripeness for full flavor.
  • Maplebrook Farm Mozzarella – Handmade in small batches in North Bennington, Vermont, this fresh mozzarella has the delicate texture and milky richness Caprese calls for.
  • Ariston Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar – Available in our self-serve station, these pantry staples come from Ariston Specialties in Bloomfield, CT and elevate your salad with just the right balance of fruitiness and tang.

Just slice, layer, drizzle—and enjoy.

Don’t Forget the Basil! Grown Right in Woburn

Whether you’re topping a salad or starting a kitchen garden, basil is a must-have—and we grow it ourselves in our Woburn growhouses! Stop by and pick up Uncle Mike’s 4″ pots for just $4.99. Choose from flavorful favorites like:

All are grown with care and ready to thrive on your windowsill, balcony, or right in the garden.

 

Easy Caprese Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2–3 ripe tomatoes, sliced
  • 8 oz Maplebrook Farm fresh mozzarella, sliced
  • A handful of fresh basil leaves
  • Ariston olive oil, to drizzle
  • Ariston balsamic vinegar, to drizzle
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. On a platter, alternate layers of sliced tomatoes and mozzarella.
  2. Tuck whole basil leaves between the slices.
  3. Drizzle generously with olive oil and a light splash of balsamic vinegar.
  4. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper.
  5. Serve immediately—or let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes to let the flavors mingle.

Pro tip: A sprinkle of flaky sea salt makes it restaurant-worthy.

Growing Your Own? Harvesting Tips for Peak Flavor

If you’re growing tomatoes and basil at home, timing your harvest makes all the difference in taste.

How to Harvest Tomatoes:

  • Wait until fully colored and slightly soft to the touch.
  • They should come off the vine with a gentle twist or tug.
  • Store at room temperature—never in the fridge—for the best flavor.

How to Harvest Basil:

  • Begin snipping when your plant has at least 6–8 leaves per stem.
  • Always cut above a pair of leaves to encourage bushier growth.
  • Avoid letting it flower; flowering reduces leaf flavor.
  • Use right away or store in water on the counter like a bouquet.

Basil + Tomatoes: The Perfect Garden Pair

Did you know basil and tomatoes don’t just pair well on your plate—they also make great companions in the garden?

 

  • Flavor boost: Some gardeners believe basil can actually improve the flavor of nearby tomatoes.
  • Pest control: Basil can help deter aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms.
  • Space-saving: Both do great in containers, making them perfect for patios or sunny windows.

Plant them together, water consistently, and enjoy a productive—and delicious—harvest.

Whether you’re grabbing local ingredients from The Farmstand or growing your own dinner, Caprese salad is an easy, crowd-pleasing way to bring summer to the table. Stop in today for farm-fresh tomatoes, Maplebrook mozzarella, Ariston oils and vinegars—and the best basil plants around!