Crispy Rice Caprese Salad (Printable Version)

Crispy rice cakes paired with juicy tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil create a satisfying, summery salad.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Crispy Rice Base

01 - 2 cups cooked and cooled sushi or short-grain rice
02 - 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
04 - 2 tablespoons neutral oil such as vegetable or canola

→ Caprese Topping

05 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 7 ounces fresh mozzarella balls, halved
07 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
08 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze or reduction
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Combine cooled sushi or short-grain rice with rice vinegar and sea salt in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly.
02 - Wet hands and shape the rice mixture into 8 round patties, using approximately 1/3 cup of rice per patty.
03 - Heat neutral oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add rice patties and cook for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels and allow to cool slightly.
04 - In a separate mixing bowl, gently toss cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
05 - Arrange the crispy rice cakes on a serving platter. Spoon the Caprese topping generously over each cake. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve immediately while the rice is still warm and crisp.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Making these crisp rice cakes feels like a little kitchen magic and you won't believe how good they taste with creamy mozzarella.
  • It takes classic Caprese into an unexpectedly fun direction that even picky eaters have devoured (trust me).
02 -
  • If you skip cooling your rice, it will stick to your hands and fall apart in the pan—frustrating and messy lesson learned.
  • Brushing the finished rice cakes with a cut garlic clove before topping changes the whole game and adds unbelievable depth.
03 -
  • Chill the rice overnight if possible, shaping is so much less stressful and the cakes crisp more evenly.
  • Let everyone build their own at the table—their favorite bites might surprise you!
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