Mozzarella marinated with tomato and arugula is a delicious and refreshing dish combining the creamiest buffalo mozzarella cheese with fresh marinated herbs.
A true delight for your palate! I’m grateful that my herb garden continues to provide me with fresh oregano and basil. There’s nothing more refreshing than incorporating fresh herbs into my dishes! If you love arugula as much as I do, you will love this cauliflower with olives and cherry tomatoes salad.
Imagine fresh oregano, basil, lime, and crushed garlic marinating over an open buffalo mozzarella. Adding crushed toasted fennel seeds to the above mix of fresh herbs intensifies the flavor to a new level.
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Therefore, all the natural juices infused the mozzarella. Sweet and tangy, all intertwine, making this fantastic mozzarella full of flavor.
This is the perfect recipe for Easter and Mother’s Day brunch, as well as any other day of the week. It can be enjoyed as a side or a complete light meal.
And, of course, it’s the best salad to take to all your parties as it takes very little time to assemble.
In this Article
- Subscribe to Giangi's Kitchen!
- Why you will love this recipe
- What is buffalo mozzarella?
- What does Buffalo Mozzarella taste like?
- Ingredients needed to make this recipe
- Equipment Needed
- Step by step on how to make this delicious to make this savory buffalo mozzarella recipe
- What is the difference between sea salt and fleur de sel?
- What dishes can you enjoy with your marinated mozzarella with tomatoes and arugula?
- Variations and Substitutions
- Storing
- If you enjoy this delicious Buffalo Mozzarella Marinated with Tomato & Arugula, look at my other recipes.
- Mozzarella Marinated with Tomatoes & Arugula
Why you will love this recipe
This is an inexpensive dish – Most ingredients are already in your pantry and refrigerator, making it easy to assemble at the last minute.
Crowd pleaser – easy to double or triple the recipe if you have a big crowd coming over.
Party ready – because it is so easy to prepare, this dish is the perfect pool party and summer barbeque side to bring to all your events.
What is buffalo mozzarella?
Buffalo mozzarella cheese is made from domesticated water buffalo milk and is traditionally manufactured in the southern part of Italy, Campania.
Creamier and softer than cow milk.
Buffalo milk is higher in fat content than cow milk, which gives this buffalo mozzarella a creamy texture and rich flavor.
What does Buffalo Mozzarella taste like?
Buffalo mozzarella has a milder taste with a bit of saltiness. Using different milk adds a more sour taste.
Ingredients needed to make this recipe
This is a short introduction. The ingredient list is also brief. It includes essential items that you may already have in your pantry. Please read the recipe for complete instructions.
Fennel seeds – The anise base flavor of toasted fennel seeds is mesmerizing. They are milder once cooked but not to be skipped, as they bring the sauce to a new level.
Lime – Use the zest and the juice of the lime to bring the perfect balance of acidity that it is needed with the mozzarella cheese. You will thank me for it.
Basil leaves – Julienne, meaning rolling the fresh basil leaves together and then slicing them thinly, forming long streams. Basil is the perfect partner to mozzarella and tomato and brings freshness to the sauce.
Oregano – Fresh and crisp once mixed with the lime juice. Mediterranean flavors all abound.
Extra virgin olive oil – the base of your marinate for your buffalo mozzarella.
Garlic: -Who can say no to fresh garlic when crushed and finely chopped? Not overpowering but enhancing all the flavors around it.
Fleur de sel or sea salt – My preference as it contains salt at the most natural level is not chemically processed.
Buffalo mozzarella – The star of this dish. Rich in flavor, it does not fall apart when cut into and is so wonderful to bite into the fresh flesh.
Tomatoes – Select your favorite tomatoes with this salad. Make sure that they are mature.
Arugula salad – is my favorite salad of choice as it does not wilt when exposed to the acidity of the lemon. It is affordable and a superfood with quite a few health benefits. I have not included the quantities as everyone loves to grab the amount they want to enjoy.
Equipment Needed
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Step by step on how to make this delicious to make this savory buffalo mozzarella recipe
As with all cooking, have all your ingredients ready before cooking.
- Start by roasting the fennel seeds in a small skillet. Once toasted, transfer them to a mortar and crush them.
- In a small bowl, add all the ingredients: crushed seeds, lemon zest and lemon juice, basil leaves, oregano, olive oil, fleur de sel, and pepper. Mix well and let them rest.
- Break the buffalo mozzarella on a plate, smear the marinade over it, and let it set for 15 to 30 minutes.
Resting all the ingredients allows them to intensify the flavors.
Serve over the arugula on a serving dish. Arrange the tomato wedges around it.
What is the difference between sea salt and fleur de sel?
I am always asked this question, as all my recipes only use sea salt and fleur de sel.
Both are the purest form of salt.
Both coarse sea salts are harvested from seawater and have a coarse grain structure. The difference lies in consistency.
Coarse sea salt has a dry and hard-defined grain.
Fleur de sel has a moist and soft grain structure.
Fleur de Sel is a salt that forms a thin crust on the surface of seawater as it evaporates. Because of how it is harvested, it is a bit more expensive.
On the other hand, you do not use it as much as it has a robust salt flavor.
What dishes can you enjoy with your marinated mozzarella with tomatoes and arugula?
Served as an easy appetizer recipe
Marinate the mozzarella, and add the sliced or quartered tomatoes when ready to serve.
Drizzle some remaining marinades over the tomatoes to bring in all the flavors.
The perfect side to your chicken spatchcocked or broiled salmon with spicy maple sauce
Or as a light dinner
By adding a bed of arugula. I love arugula, but you can use radicchio, cresson, or butter lettuce.
However, let marinate the buffalo mozzarella alone and transfer it over the salad bed at dinner.
The acidity of the lemon will wilt the salad if the two are prepared simultaneously. And the marinade is what gives this dish such a fantastic flavor.
Variations and Substitutions
There is so much fun to be had with this dish, and here are some of my suggestions for variations and substitutions.
- If you are brave, add a few shakes of red pepper flakes to kick it up a notch or two.
- Some sun-dried tomatoes added to your marinade give it a nice, sweet flavor.
- Substitute the oregano with fresh parsley or chopped fresh rosemary.
- If buffalo mozzarella is not available, it does happen; you can use fresh mozzarella balls or ciliegine mozzarella. Either way, break them apart as per the recipe.
One more thing… have some crusty bread ready to enjoy the marinade.
Storing
Store: Yes, your marinated mozzarella will be stored in the refrigerator; however, your salad will not, as it will wilt with the acidity of the dressing. Store your mozzarella in an airtight container in the fridge for two days.
Bring back to room temperature and enjoy.
If you enjoy this delicious Buffalo Mozzarella Marinated with Tomato & Arugula, look at my other recipes.
Mozzarella Marinated with Tomatoes & Arugula
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 lime , grated zest
- ½ lime , juice
- 20 basil leaves, julienned
- 2 teaspoons oregano, chopped fresh oregano
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, crushed and slightly chopped
- ½ teaspoon fleur de sel
- black pepper
- 8 ounces buffalo mozzarella
- 2 tomatoes, ripe
- arugula salad
Instructions
- Scatter the fennel seeds in a small frying pan over medium-high heat and dry-roast until they pop. Transfer to a mortar and crush.
- Place the crushed seeds in a small bowl and add the lemon zest and juice, basil leaves, oregano, olive oil, garlic, fleur de sel, and pepper. Mix well. Let it rest.
- On a plate break the mozzarella roughly and smear with the marinade and set aside for 15 to 30 minutes.
TO SERVE
- Spread the arugula salad on a serving dish.
- Place the mozzarella cheese over it and cut the tomatoes, and place them alongside the dish. Drizzle with some extra olive oil and serve
Nutrition
Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Appetizers, Salads, Sides
- Cuisine: Italian
- Occasion: Fourth of July
- Season: Spring, Summer
- Type: Affordable Gourmet, Under 45 minutes
Did you make this?
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Kalin
What a great salad! We had an arugula salad with mozzarella from a restaurant that fell flat, but this sounds wayyy better. Can’t wait to make this!
Giangi Townsend
You will love this salad then. Full of flavor and so easy to make.
Bon Appetit!
Ana
This looks amazing! I’m going to get all the ingredients to make it.
Giangi Townsend
You will love it Ana. Easy to make and so delicious.
Enjoy!!
Jessica
I have been looking for a recipe like this! We had something similar once and I was in love. I can’t wait to give this a try.
Giangi Townsend
Jessica, you will enjoy it.
Bon Appetit!
Fabiana
Being Italian, I deeply love this recipe. :)) It is one of my favorites! I love your idea of the marinade, I will definitely try it soon!!
Giangi Townsend
Thank you Fabiana. Easy and super savory.
Enjoy!
Jennifer
I LOVE arugula salad, anytime I see it on the menu I always order it, so I’m adding this to my lunch menu this week, thank you! Also, thank you for introducing me to Buffalo mozzarella, I need to try it ASAP.
Giangi Townsend
That is wonderful! You are most welcome.n I am the same and always order it. You will enjoy this salad, easy to prepare and with so much flavor.
Bon Appetit!
Giangi
Colette
This looks so delicious! Where can I buy buffalo mozzarella?
Giangi Townsend
Hi Colette!
Most grocery stores and gourmet specialty stores will carry. Whole Foods, Trader’s Joe may too. Murray’s is a great company that is everywhere in the US. Galbani is my most favorite brand.
I am sure any of your area stores will order it for you.
Enjoy!
Giangi
Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady
What a light and healthy appetizer! Marinated mozzarella is always a hit in our household 🙂
Giangi Townsend
My family loves it and regular mozzarella has taken a huge step to the back burner :).
Enjoy and thank you for stopping by Giangi’s Kitchen.
xoxo
Giangi
Gregory Halpen
I’ve not heard of Buffalo cheese. A new thing I get to try! This looks delicious!
Giangi Townsend
Buffalo mozzarella is originating from the Campania region of Italy, south of Naples. Softer inside and hard outer shell. Quite savory and easy to work with.
Enjoy!
Jeannie
such a yummy appetizer, my next goal is to grow my own herbs too 🙂