Name: Caprese Salad with Blackberry & Watermelon
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 people
Ingredients: 3 cups watermelon (deseeded and chopped); 12 oz whole blackberries (thawed if frozen); 1 cup vegan mozarella (or homemade); 1 lemon (or lime juiced, about 3 tablespoons); 1 cup fresh basil leaves (sliced); sea salt and pepper (to taste)

Yum

Summer is coming to an end, but the hot days can linger into late September and this Vegan Caprese Salad with Blackberry & Watermelon is a refreshing, easy addition to any meal.

I want to thank Katie, my friend, fellow blogger, and dietitian from One Hungry Bunny, for sharing this recipe with me. Although not strictly plant-based, she has many recipes that are.

If you're in a hurry, you can find watermelon already chopped and blackberries in the freezer section. This recipe uses store-bought vegan mozzarella, but I'm developing a recipe that you can make at home. It will be a little healthier.

If the store-bought version isn't for you, leave it out because the combo of these two fruits is still delicious. This recipe is beautiful to take to a party and so quick to pull together!

Won't it be fun to have vegan mozzarella for topping your pizzas or for appetizers?

You could also use tofu feta for this recipe. Here's the recipe but I also found an easier way to make tofu feta. It's a simple marinade that's easy to throw together. Then marinate for a couple of hours or overnight.

Adding fresh fruit to any meal is easy:

As we know, all fruits are healthy for us, but here is a list of 9 health benefits from watermelon including being hydrating, containing vitamins A and C, carotenoids, lycopene (the red color), and one I haven't heard of cucurbitacin E that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Another health benefit of watermelon, it's good for your skin and hair. Read the article to discover 7 more!

Of course, blackberries are also a powerhouse of nutrition including the 6 listed in this article, "6 Amazing Health Benefits of Blackberries."

I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments below for this Vegan Caprese Salad with Blackberry & Watermelon! If you have a photo, post it on my Facebook page, tag me using the hashtag #plantbasedcooking in your caption, and I won't miss it!