Caprese
A Caprese Salad is a really easy dish to make. Perfect for a potluck, dinner party, or your own table. There are 4 ingredients: tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and balsamic vinegar.
Tomatoes
Choose the best that you can find. Heirloom would be best, but regular vine ripened tomatoes work well, too. I used both red and yellow tomatoes to add a bit more color. Also, grape or cherry tomatoes are ideal when making Caprese skewers.
Basil
This summer, I'm hoping to grow basil again so that I can pick it right from my own garden. Basil is such a fragrant herb...I adore the smell! But be careful, if you buy it in the store it will probably wilt quickly. So plan to use it right away. I have not discovered how to keep store bought basil fresh yet. If anyone has any tips, I'd really appreciate them! :)
Mozzarella
I bought a block of cheese and cut thin slices for my salad. You could also use mozzarella balls that come in their liquid. Whatever you can find.
Balsamic Vinegar
Choose a good quality balsamic. In order to get a sweet, rich flavor I used a 1/2 cup of balsamic and added it to a small sauce pan. On low, heat the balsamic and let it simmer until it's reduced (by half) to a thick, syrupy sauce. Take it off the heat, allow it to cool slightly, then drizzle it over your salad.
Salad Arrangement
This can be done several ways... layer it (like I did) in a pretty pattern, use skewers, or chop it all up and mix it in a bowl. Whatever way you choose to present it, the flavor will be amazing regardless.
Tomatoes
Choose the best that you can find. Heirloom would be best, but regular vine ripened tomatoes work well, too. I used both red and yellow tomatoes to add a bit more color. Also, grape or cherry tomatoes are ideal when making Caprese skewers.
Basil
This summer, I'm hoping to grow basil again so that I can pick it right from my own garden. Basil is such a fragrant herb...I adore the smell! But be careful, if you buy it in the store it will probably wilt quickly. So plan to use it right away. I have not discovered how to keep store bought basil fresh yet. If anyone has any tips, I'd really appreciate them! :)
Mozzarella
I bought a block of cheese and cut thin slices for my salad. You could also use mozzarella balls that come in their liquid. Whatever you can find.
Balsamic Vinegar
Choose a good quality balsamic. In order to get a sweet, rich flavor I used a 1/2 cup of balsamic and added it to a small sauce pan. On low, heat the balsamic and let it simmer until it's reduced (by half) to a thick, syrupy sauce. Take it off the heat, allow it to cool slightly, then drizzle it over your salad.
Salad Arrangement
This can be done several ways... layer it (like I did) in a pretty pattern, use skewers, or chop it all up and mix it in a bowl. Whatever way you choose to present it, the flavor will be amazing regardless.
A perfect summer salad. Or, if you're like me, a perfect it's-winter-but-I'm-dreaming-of-sunshine salad. C'mon Punxsutawney Phil...don't let me down!
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