I absolutely love cheese! Melted, sliced, crumbled or aged…there’s no single food I enjoy more. I even tried once to give it up for two weeks, but barely made it for two days. My downfall was when Josee bought this amazing truffle cheese around the holidays last year. I ate almost the entire thing and I swear I still have dreams about it.
Since I’m in such a “cheesy” mood today, I want to share a simple, tasty recipe that can be prepared in no time at all. Insalata Caprese (more commonly called tomato & mozzarella salad) literally means “salad from Capri”. Capri is an island off the coast of Italy and its famous salad works great as an appetizer, side item or main dish for cooks who are in a hurry, but want something fresh and delicious. If you can slice tomatoes, you can make this recipe!
Ingredients
3 large vine-ripe tomatoes, washed and sliced ¼ inch thick
1 lb fresh mozzarella, sliced ¼ inch thick
1 bunch fresh basil leaves, washed and dried on paper towels
1-2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper to taste
Prepare tomatoes, mozzarella and basil as directed above. You can even buy pre-sliced mozzarella to save time. On a nice plate or platter, arrange tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves, stacking and overlapping them in a circle. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over top evenly and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
If you prefer, you can chop the basil and sprinkle it on top instead. You also want to look for the freshest and most flavorful tomatoes you can find that aren’t too mushy. Experiment a little! Try using garlic infused olive oil or add other herbs like oregano. You can also arrange this salad on of a bed of mixed greens for a different presentation.
Enjoy!
- Lauren
Labels: fruits and vegetables, Healthy Recipes, Lauren
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