Caprese salad is a classic I come back to again and again, but this version is my personal favorite. What makes it special? Instead of using plain salt, I season it with shio koji—a Japanese seasoning made from rice koji, salt, and water.
Shio koji brings a subtle sweetness and a gentle boost of umami that really elevates the flavor of the tomatoes and mozzarella. Plus, since shio koji is a fermented food, it’s also a gut-friendly choice.
Caprese Salad Using Shio Koji
This is my favorite way to make Caprese salad, using shio koji instead of salt for added umami, a touch of sweetness, and gut-friendly benefits.
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 (1) tomato
- 100 g (3.5 oz) mozzarella cheese
Dressing
- 0.5 tbsp (0.5 tbsp) shio koji
- 2 tbsp (1 tbsp) olive oil
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) lemon juice or Balsamic vinegar (optional)
- 1 pinch (1 pinch) ground black pepper
directions
- First, slice up tomato and mozzarella cheese into bite-size pieces.
- Then lay these slices along with basil leaves alternatingly on a plate.
- Okay, let's make the dressing. In a small bowl, add shio koji and olive oil.This is optional, but I sometimes like to add some acid like lemon juice like I'm doing here, or Balsamic vinegar
- Stir this mixture and then pour it over the salad.
- Sprinkle some ground black pepper, and we are done! Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Feel free to change the ingredient amounts to your taste.
- What Is Shio Koji? (The Complete Guide)
- How to Make Shio Koji (Recipe)
- Shio koji products: – If You Are Outside of Japan Shio koji by marukome 200g (7.05 ounce): https://geni.us/8vWX0vj Shio koji by marukome 500g (17.6 ounce): https://geni.us/tIoxH2b – If You Are in Japan Shio koji by marukome 500g (17.6 ounce) x 2: https://geni.us/Kbbw0C As an Amazon Associate, I earn a percentage of what you pay on qualifying purchases.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 292.8kcalCarbohydrates: 5.2gProtein: 11.7gFat: 25.4gSaturated Fat: 8.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.9gMonounsaturated Fat: 13.5gCholesterol: 39.5mgSodium: 454.6mgPotassium: 187.1mgFiber: 0.8gSugar: 2.2gVitamin A: 850.7IUVitamin C: 9.4mgCalcium: 259.2mgIron: 0.5mg
Tokyo-based Japanese home cook and food writer, sharing easy, low-carb recipes featuring Japanese staples like shio koji. I also explore the city’s dining scene through honest restaurant reviews and food adventures. Learn more at sakurayubi.com/about.
