I could eat a Caprese Salad everyday of my life. Truly. In the Summer months, I come close to it actually! Its perfection, light, delicious, and for some reason, I find it romantic. Not sure why, but even today, sitting here on the deck (lanai) alone working, I just feel a robust romance with life while eating it. Try it, if you haven’t already. Its magical.
Caprese Salad
1 ripe fat juicy organic Roma Tomato from your local farmers market
Fresh Mozzarella ball sliced
7 leaves of organic fresh Basil
Salt and pepper to taste
Balsamic Reduction (you can use regular balsamic, but the reduction adds a glorious tart sweetness that can’t be beat!)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1. Wash and slice tomato, taking out the seeds.
2. Place on a flat plate.
3. Place slices of Mozzarella over each tomato.
4. Sprinkle chopped Basil over each tower of tomato and mozzarella.
5. Drizzle Balsamic Reduction over each stack, and then drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil over each one as well.
6. Salt and pepper to taste.
You can also have this on bread or make a sandwich out of it. That’s heavenly as well.
Serves 1-2
Aw I loooooooove caprese salad! I don't eat it anymore because I went vegan but I make it without the cheese and its still yummy! I could not believe that my boyfriend had never had "real" mozzarella (that is the kind that is soaked in water and not pre-shredded so I made it for him the other night!
Erika,
A friend over on facebook said she used slices of tofu in place of the mozzarella, as she doesn't eat cheese either. Might be a good alternative?
Mmmm…so yummy! I love salad! I love cheese too. So salad + cheese is always a must. Sorry I'm not a vegetgarian so I like to put a pound or 2 of bacon bits on it and then I'm happy =)
Oh. my. goodness. This recipe is just stunning and it's simplicity is absolutely alluring. I agree, I think I could eat this everyday!
I'm with you–I could eat Caprese salad every day, all summer long. But in July, when my own tomatoes start to ripen, I think I could eat it for every meal!
Mmm I love Caprese salad too! There's nothing like fresh mozz. If you can find heirloom tomatoes, I think that makes it even better!
I couldn't agree with you more: a good Caprese with farm-ripened tomatoes and fresh mozzarella is close to heaven. Beautiful photos!
I think we all agree! And the garden fresh organic tomatoes are a MUST.
Yum Yum, can't wait to try it, sounds really delicious 🙂
I've planned my entire (albeit small) vegetable garden around this salad. It is a romantic salad. It whisks me away to some Mediterranean climate where the air is heavy with heat and lavendar or sage and I'm drinking a refreshing pastis in the middle of the day. Thanks for the wonderful wakeup call that summer is almost here!
Oh… such a lovely picture you paint. *sigh* I think I need to do a whole write up on romantic foods…
I am with you! I am now hooked on these roasted red tomatoes they have at Whole Foods – they are marinated in olive oil and garlic and with some basil and mozzarella…oh my gosh. These look amazing!
Oh that sounds really good…
wow! I can't wait for summer! That salad looks so delicious and perfect on summer days. Thank you for sharing!
Yum! I LOVE Caprese salad as well. This looks great 🙂
Such a beautiful photo! I love this salad too.
"I could eat a Caprese Salad everyday of my life. Truly." DOUBLE true. So great for this time of year.
What beautiful presentation! And agreed with all the comments above. This is the perfect time of year for this salad!
Count me in with all of the Caprese lovers here. The hardest part is finding worthy tomatoes!
Yes, tomatoes do make the whole thing don't they? Luckily I have a small organic daily farmers market down the street for the next 3 months and I plan on taking full advantage of their tomatoes!
My absolute fav too! great pic. I make a yummy caprese "tossed" salad with pine nuts. I grow little tomatoes and fresh basil in my little potted Arizona garden. 😉
Oh god! I hadn't thought of pine nuts! What a great idea. Will have to try that today.
I had it just yesterday with my husband and it too is something I could eat every day. The smell is intoxicating!
Isn't it? And I forgot to mention, sometimes, when I'm feeling a bit wild, I'll add a dash of minced garlic to the whole thing! 🙂
I agree. I used to eat this alot! So refreshing.
I love this with goat cheese. MMM…
Looks like you're living the life in Hawaii…so jealous! ^_^
We are! And I hear you all had snow last week! I wish we could have brought our entire Idyllwild community with us… it would make Maui even BETTER! 🙂
That looks so good. I love that salad. I recently purchased a basil plan in hopes I could have it more often.
YUM! I just adore caprese salad, these look beautiful:)
Well, I'm joining the parade of fans for this special salad. I was recently in Texas and visited an olive farm. I decided to try their Blackberry balsamic on a Caprese salad and it is PERFECT! I don't have any interest in promoting them, but if you can't find blackberry balsamic anywhere else, here's their website:http://www.TexasOliveRanch.com
Oh my husband loves caprese salad, I have never made it with roma tomatoes, thanks!
I'd have to agree with you. This is my absolute favorite thing to eat (well, except pizza!). Yours looks phenomenal, and is making my stomach growl!! Thanks for sharing!
~Sophia http://www.chewonthatblog.com
Elena – I love your blog so much that I decided to pass along the Sunshine award to you. http://eatingandliving.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunsh…
Why thank you kindly!
i agree, whenever we get gift certificates to go to macaroni grill, thats what i order, just because its so refreshing and enjoyable. one of life's simple pleasures.
Love it! Definitely going to try this recipe. I love Caprese Salad!
You and me both! Even better with burrata!
Agree with you about this being a top / favorite. Now that I live in NJ, we have the greatest tomatoes and it makes making this dish a joy.
Agree with you about this being a top / favorite. Now that I live in NJ, we have the greatest tomatoes and it makes making this dish a joy.
Yes… Caprese salad is nice recipe but the secret is in the fresh "mozzarella di bufala DOP" and right tomatoes as "pachino" or "insalataro" type. By from Italy!
Matteo
I adore a good Caprese Salad. The cheese and the freshness of the tomatoes are so important. I make it in August when I have tomatoes from the back yard and some fresh basil. Nothing beats the combination sprinkled with a touch of sea salt.
That looks amazing! Damn, I just got hungry. Again :p
Insalata Caprese is one of my favorites I usually substitute Mozzarella with queso fresco.
Alba H. Rodriguez
Oh! I enjoy caprese salads too. Fresh and beautiful crisp colors in your presentation. Now I'm craving it!
i agree!caprese is always in the top of my preferences!congrats for make top 9 on f.b.!
This brings me back to my vacation in Greece. Seriously, this was all I ate while I was there. Its amazing how happy this dish can make you when your sitting on a terrace on the island of Santorini looking out over the crystal clear blue waters of the Meditteranean.
I can't believe how simple yet flavorful this dish is.
"I could eat a Caprese Salad everyday of my life. Truly."
Yes!
…it is nearly 8 pm and I could not help but reach for the mozzarella I had in the fridge after reading your post. Just to snack; dinner was earlier. Dangerous!
Leave in the seeds for more flavor! It is tasty!
Ooo… I don’t think I could. The texture is never appealing to me. But others may want to try it and report back! 🙂
I LOVE caprese!!!
One of my ABSOLUTE favorite salads! My husband gets a little tired of me making it, but I can never get tired of it. Your photo is beautiful!
Luscious photo…lovely post! You are a wizard of words and I am entranced….and also drooling now. Thank you for the wonderful foodly distraction. I'm thinking that Roland Foods Balsamic Paste (the one I grovel for at Cafe Aroma) would be the thing to take this over the edge! I am so gonna tweet this and get credit for knowing you and knowing about your bodacious blog! 😉 xoxoxo
SuuperG!!!!!! I think you may be right about the Roland Foods Balsamic Paste… but here's your homework! Next time you go to Cafe Aroma, see if they will let you see the bottle and then let me know what the ingredients are. I think that they mix the balsamic with something else. I'd love to try to make it at home. Big love to you!
Oh, boy…you are killin' me here! I agree, I could live on Caprese salads do and do so often during tomato season. too bad i have to wait another 3 months for a decent tomato to grace my path. This picture is making me dream of warm summer days and simple salad dinners. Lovely!
I KNOW!! Add a piece of ripe avocado to that and I am in food BLISS.
(Hope you get this, as you can see I am a bit behind – lol!)
xo