Gusto TV Caprese Salad with Tuna Recipe - A Fresh Mediterranean-Inspired Summer Dish

Caprese Salad with Tuna Recipe

This Caprese Salad with Tuna recipe reimagines a classic Italian favourite by pairing ripe tomatoes and creamy mozzarella with tender, olive-oil-poached tuna. Featured on A Is for Apple and hosted by Robert Jewell, this dish celebrates peak-season ingredients and simple techniques that let flavour shine. Light yet luxurious, this Caprese salad with tuna is perfect for warm-weather entertaining, casual lunches, or elegant starters.

The Inspiration

Caprese salad is traditionally a celebration of just a few pristine ingredients—tomatoes, fresh cheese, basil, olive oil—arranged simply and served without fuss. In this episode of A Is for Apple, host Robert Jewell elevates the familiar dish by adding gently poached tuna, turning a classic side into a satisfying, protein-rich centerpiece.

The inspiration comes from Mediterranean coastal cooking, where tuna is often preserved or lightly cooked in olive oil to maintain its tenderness and purity. Poaching the tuna at a low temperature with lemon peel, thyme, and garlic infuses it with subtle aromatics while keeping the texture silky and delicate. When paired with sweet heirloom tomatoes, creamy bocconcini, and fragrant basil, the result is a dish that feels both rustic and refined. This approach reflects the show’s philosophy: honour the ingredients, keep the technique approachable, and let simplicity do the heavy lifting.

Ingredients

Poached tuna

1 large tuna steak 1 ¼ inch (2.75cm) thickness 1 lb (454g)
2 cups (500ml) olive oil
8 large 2 inch (5.08cm) strips of lemon peel pith removed
4 cloves garlic skin on
6 thyme sprigs

Salad

6 -8 large fresh heirloom tomatoes
4 large bocconcini balls
1/2 cup (125 ml) sundried black olives with pits (optional)
¼ of a red onion
½ cup (125 ml) fresh basil
1.5 tbsp (22.5 ml) good quality balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil
good quality crunchy salt like fleur de sel or sea salt
freshly ground pepper

Methods

Season tuna with salt and allow to come to room temperature.
In a sauce pan add the olive oil, lemon zest, thyme. Smash the garlic with the back of your knife add to the pot skins and all. Add a few grinds of fresh pepper.
Set the pan over low heat bring to a temperature of 120F (49°C).
Add the tuna and ensure the tuna is completely submerged. Keep the heat constant and low. Cook for 5 minutes for medium rare. Remove from heat.
Allow to sit in warm oil until cool.
For the salad cut the tomatoes in wedges and place on a large serving tray. Cut the bocconcini cheese into ¼ inch (.31cm) rounds, or tear into bite sized pieces. Scatter the cheese evenly over tomatoes.
Slice the red onion thin and with the grain. Place evenly over tomatoes. Add the olives.
Drizzle the whole platter with balsamic and olive oil. Flake the tuna into chunks and place on top.
Sprinkle the salad with crunchy salt and give a few good turns from the pepper mill.
Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

This Caprese Salad with Tuna recipe is ideal for summer lunches, light dinners, or al fresco entertaining. Serve it as a main course with crusty bread or grilled focaccia to soak up the juices, or present it as a shared platter at the start of a meal.

It pairs beautifully with crisp white wines, rosé, or sparkling water with citrus. For gatherings, arrange the salad on a wide platter to showcase the vibrant colours of the tomatoes, basil, and tuna. Its relaxed elegance makes it equally suitable for casual family meals and refined entertaining.

Final Thoughts

This Caprese Salad with Tuna recipe is a masterclass in restraint and balance. By combining gently poached tuna with ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil, Robert Jewell transforms a familiar classic into a standout dish that feels both nourishing and indulgent. Featured on A Is for Apple, this recipe celebrates Mediterranean simplicity, seasonal ingredients, and the power of thoughtful technique. Whether served as a light main or an impressive starter, it’s a dish that proves great cooking doesn’t need to be complicated—just intentional.

Find more recipes from A is for Apple here!