Caprese Salad Tomato Mozzarella (Printable version)

Ripe tomatoes combined with creamy mozzarella and fresh basil, finished with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

# What You'll Need:

→ Produce

01 - 3 large ripe tomatoes, sliced
02 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

→ Dairy

03 - 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

→ Condiments

04 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze

→ Seasonings

06 - Sea salt, to taste
07 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How To Make:

01 - Place alternating slices of tomato and mozzarella on a large platter, slightly overlapping each piece.
02 - Insert fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella slices to distribute flavor evenly.
03 - Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil evenly over the arranged ingredients, then add balsamic glaze on top.
04 - Sprinkle sea salt and freshly ground black pepper across the salad according to preference.
05 - Present the salad as a side or light appetizer without delay to retain freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes less time to assemble than it does to set the table, yet it tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • Every bite feels clean and bright, like the kind of food that makes you sit up straighter and take a slow breath.
  • You can make it look stunning without any culinary tricks, just good ingredients placed with a little care.
02 -
  • If your tomatoes are cold from the fridge, let them sit out for twenty minutes before slicing, cold tomatoes taste like nothing.
  • Don't skip the balsamic glaze in favor of plain vinegar, the sweetness is what ties the whole plate together.
  • Assemble this right before serving, it gets watery if it sits too long and loses that crisp juicy contrast.
03 -
  • Buy mozzarella the morning you plan to serve this, the fresher it is, the softer and more delicate the texture.
  • If your balsamic glaze is too thick, warm it gently in a small pan with a teaspoon of water to loosen it up.
  • Don't overdress the salad, you want just enough oil and glaze to coat the ingredients without drowning them.
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