BASIL AND MOZZARELLA CAPRESE SALAD
The basil and mozzarella Caprese salad is an Italian quintessence dish, respected for its simplicity and freshness of flavours. The perfect summer salad, where juicy and ripened tomatoes look intertwined with soft, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil, smothered at the end with olive oil, salt, and pepper, is light food, a snack or an appetiser that tells much about the degree of concord reached between flavours and textures. That dish is so posh. It’s those lovely flavours ready within a few minutes of preparation that’s great for really celebrating fresh ingredients for any occasion. The freshness and acidity of tomatoes give some nice contrast to the richness of mozzarella and make basil a nice herbal note.
RECIPE CATEGORY
Snack, Brunch, Appetiser, Side
SERVING SIZE
1
CUISINE
Italian, Mediterranean
PREPARATION / TECHNIQUES
No-Cook, Quick & Easy, 5 Ingredients or Less
OCCASION / HOLIDAY
Picnic, Summer, Cocktail Party, Easter, Fall, Potluck, Spring, Valentine’s Day
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION / DIETARY CONCERNS
Vegetarian, Low Cholesterol, Quick & Easy, Wheat / Gluten-Free, Kosher, Healthy, Kid-Friendly
DISH TYPE
Salad, Appetiser, Side
INGREDIENTS
- 1 medium tomato, sliced
- 30g fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
FULL NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (PER SERVING)
- Calories: 150
- Protein: 8g
- Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fibre: 1g
- Sodium: 210mg
PREPARATION
- Slice the ingredients: Start by slicing the tomato into even, round slices. Do the same with the mozzarella, ensuring the slices are of similar thickness to the tomato.
- Arrange the salad: One can even enhance the beauty of the salad by placing an alternation of slices of tomato and mozzarella in an orderly row or circular pattern on a serving plate, and yet each and every bite guarantees perfection.
- Add basil: Tuck a few whole leaves of basil between slices of tomato and mozzarella. Fresh basil adds a burst of flavour and introduces a lovely flare of colour.
- Drizzle with olive oil: Drizzle olive oil evenly over the salad. Olive oil makes the dressing slightly richer, but it is easy to mix all the flavours together.
- Season: Season with salt and pepper according to taste, and sprinkle on top. The seasoning thereof dresses the plain flavours of salad stuff up to make it extremely savoury.
- Serve: Serve warm as a starter, side, or light meal.
PREP TIME
5 minutes
COOKING TIME
None
TIPS
- Fresh ingredients must be used since the freshness of the tomatoes and mozzarella turns the whole account into the flavour of this simple dish.
- This dish can also be served with toast or baguette slices and rubbed with a garlic clove to make the taste better.
- With refined extra virgin olive oil, it really becomes more luxurious as a salad.
- If you like the taste of tart, you can add a little balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze, but in the end, it gives your salad the necessary sweetness and tanginess.
- Fresh basil leaves should be torn at the time of service to add a rustic touch and let the inherent fragrance diffuse better.
VARIATIONS
- Add slices of avocado and infuse into this dish with healthy fats and creaminess.
- You can add toasted pine nuts for crunchiness in the salad.
- Try heirloom tomatoes for added colour and their various flavour profiles.
- Add a twist with creamy burrata or feta cheese instead of mozzarella for the creative Caprese.
- It is savoured with a crusty baguette or grilled chicken or fish for a more filling meal.
PREPPING AND STORAGE
- Fridge: Assemble the layer and chill separately. Best texture of tomatoes and mozzarella just before you serve it. Salad leftovers will be kept beautifully for up to one day in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Freezing: Freezing is not recommended since fresh mozzarella, along with tomatoes, don’t freeze well and are likely to lose their texture when thawed.
