Tomato mozzarella caprese salad
User Reviews
4.8
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Prep Time
30 mins
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Servings
8 people as a salad or 12-16 people as an appetizer platter
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Cuisine
Italian, American, International
Tomato mozzarella caprese salad
Description
This Tomato mozzarella caprese salad combines fresh tomatoes, which may be sliced, quartered, or halved, with fresh mozzarella cheese prepared to match the tomato sizes. The components are arranged on platters in layered or spiral patterns or as individual stacks. The salad is finished by drizzling a sauce made from blended basil, garlic, and oil along with balsamic vinegar or reduction, providing herbs and tangy sweetness to complement the mild cheese and bright tomatoes.
The combination yields both a contrast in texture between the soft cheese and the firm tomatoes and a blend of fresh, herbal, fruity, and acidic notes. It is typically served immediately to preserve the freshness of the ingredients.
Ingredients
- 4-6 tomato can use regular vine tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes or 2 pints of cherry or grape tomatoes, ripe; medium to large
- 1 lb mozzarella cheese fresh; of your choosing
- ½-1 cup basil adjust to taste, sauce
- ½-1 cup garlic
- ½-1 cup oil
- 4- 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar adjust to taste, reduction sauce to drizzle
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Optional side:
- lices bread to help soak up the sauces
Instructions
- Slice, quarter or halve the tomatoes, based on your preferred salad presentation.
- Slice, quarter or leave the mozzarella whole, again based on you would like to assemble the salad.
For a caprese salad platter:
- Arrange the salad on a large platter; you can use one or two platters depending on the size. If using slices, you can add the tomato slices first and then either add the mozzarella slices on top, or stack them alternating the cheese and tomato slices in a slightly diagonal way. For a rectangular or square platter, you can create straight horizontal layers, and for a round platter you can form round spiral like layers.
- You can also place the mozzarella, whole or quartered, in the center of the platter, and arrange the tomatoes, sliced or quartered, around the cheese.
- Drizzle the tomato mozzarella salad with the basil garlic oil and the balsamic reduction
- Serve immediately
For individual caprese tomato stacks:
- Place a tomato slice on a small or medium sized plate, add a sliced of fresh mozzarella, drizzle a small amount of the basil oil on top of the mozzarella.
- Repeat the same process until you have 2-3 layers of tomato and mozzarella. Drizzle the balsamic reduction on top of the caprese salad stacks.
- Serve immediately.
For a cherry tomato and pearl mozzarella salad:
- Use cherry or grape tomatoes, you can leave them whole or slice them in halves.
- Place the mozzarella pearls or ciliegine in a bowl, add the basil oil and mix well.
- Mix in the cherry tomatoes.
- Drizzle with the balsamic reduction right before serving.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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