Caprese Salad with Sweet Heirloom Tomatoes
Caprese’s are such a classic, yet simple, traditional Italian salad. They taste absolutely incredible and only require a few simple ingredients! It reminds me of the classic margarita pizza we all know and love but without the crust.
Ingredients
mozzarella (whole log)
fresh basil
heirloom or cherry tomatoes
olive oil
balsamic reduction
white vinegar
sugar
The first step is marinating your tomatoes. This will change the flavor from a bland raw tomato to a sweet, tart, and juicy tomato.
Cut your tomatoes in half and place in a shallow pan. Sprinkle the tomatoes lightly with sugar (2 tbsp per pint of tomatoes) and a touch of salt. Pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into the pan and allow to marinade for 30 mins to an hour before prepping the rest of your salad.
Cut your mozzarella log into 1/2 inch slices and place in a bowl. Lightly salt and splash 1 tbsp of white balsamic vinegar in the bowl (trust me it brings out the flavor incredibly).
Take your fresh basil leaves and cut in a chiffonade (very thin strips). You don’t want to mince your basil as it will bruise and harm the flavor.
Now it’s time to assemble your salad!
Grab your favorite presentation plate (I like using long rectangular plates for this). Line up your heirloom tomatoes in a long strip. Then right next to your line of tomatoes, line up your mozzarella slices in the same manner. Sprinkle your basil chiffonade’s generously across the plate. Then drizzle with balsamic reduction to finish.
Enjoy this elegant and satiating salad!