Tomatoes Caprese Salad

Tomatoes Caprese Salad

A classic Italian salad of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh picked basil is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer side dish.

 

 Tomato Caprese Salad | Home & Plate | www.homeandplate.com | A classic Italian salad of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh picked basil is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer side dish. #caprese #tomatoes

 

[Updated May 30, 2018] There’s nothing like home grown tomatoes from the garden. Compared to store-bought, homegrown stem tomatoes are sweeter and more flavorful. They are picked at the height of ripeness.

How to Make Tomatoes Caprese

High in sugar and acid, a homegrown tomato is ripened perfectly right on the vine. They will never compare to grocery bought tomatoes. They are juicy and sweet as sugar. If you can’t grow them, pick them fresh from a local farm market.

 

 Tomato Caprese Salad | Home & Plate | www.homeandplate.com | A classic Italian salad of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh picked basil is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer side dish. #caprese #tomatoes

 

For this caprese salad the key ingredient is homegrown tomatoes. Now if you are going to use the best tomatoes you also need to use the best mozzarella and the freshest basil.

Like fresh picked tomatoes,  the flavor of homegrown basil is more pronounced and peppery sweet than store-bought. It’s easy to plant basil in one of your containers surrounded by your potted flowers. Just do it. You’ll use it all summer long.

Fresh mozzarella is just as important. Skip the dairy section of your grocery store and head to the deli and cheese department for fresh mozzarella. It’s softer, has a higher moisture content and is vacuum-sealed or packaged in water.

And lastly, your caprese salad would not be as delicious if you didn’t use high-quality olive oil and barrel aged balsamic vinegar. Yes I said aged. It’s a dark, thick syrup that’s sweet and delicious. It’s a little more expensive but completely worth it.

 

 Tomato Caprese Salad | Home & Plate | www.homeandplate.com | A classic Italian salad of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh picked basil is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer side dish. #caprese #tomatoes

 

And finally to finish the dish, a simple drizzle of balsamic glaze over the tomatoes it’s like the cherry on top. You can find balsamic glaze in the same aisle of your grocery store as the vinegar.

Anyone can assemble tomatoes and mozzarella, but if you want your caprese salad to stand out and take center stage follow these tips. I guarantee your friends will be asking for your secret.

 

 Tomato Caprese Salad | Home & Plate | www.homeandplate.com | A classic Italian salad of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh picked basil is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer side dish. #caprese #tomatoes

 

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Tomatoes Caprese Salad

A classic Italian salad of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh picked basil is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer side dish.
Prep Time15 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Tomatoes Caprese
Servings: 4
Author: Ali Randall

Ingredients

  • 4 vine tomatoes, 1/4-inch slices
  • 1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, 1/4-inch slices
  • 15 fresh basil leaves, sliced
  • Olive oil
  • Aged balsamic vinegar
  • Balsamic glaze
  • Fresh ground pepper and kosher salt

Instructions

  • Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into 1/4-inch slices. Arrange the tomato slices on a platter and top each with a slice of fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. Sprinkle fresh ground pepper and kosher salt over the entire plate, then drizzle olive oil, balsamic vinegar and glaze over the tomatoes and serve.

 Tomato Caprese Salad | Home & Plate | www.homeandplate.com | A classic Italian salad of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh picked basil is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer side dish. #caprese #tomatoes

 


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