Back to Italy: July 2015

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Caprese Salad Recipe

INSALATA CAPRESE

Salad of Mozzarella Tomatoes & Basil

As the name might imply, this salad (antipasto) comes from the beautiful Island of Capri in the Bay of Naples. Well yes, this salad made of fresh Mozzarella, Tomatoes, and Basil (Baz-ZEE-na-gOl) is eaten all over this lovely island by both natives and the many tourist who go to Capri to delight in its natural beauty, make a pilgrimage to the famed Grotta Azzura, swim its pristine deep blue waters, and of course eat some tasty local food of which the Insalata Caprese is the most famous of all.

This salad is the easiest thing in the world to make, with the hardest part being to find perfect rip tomatoes to complement the fresh mozzarella and basil. Once you find good fresh rip tomatoes, and you’ve got your mozzarella and basil, all you have to do is slice the tomatoes and mozzarella and dress all with a little salt & pepper, the basil, and good quality Italian Olive Oil and you’re all set. Put on some nice Italian Music, get a nice bottle of white or red wine that comes from the region and you’re all set. Pretend you’re on Capri and you’re in Heaven.

INGREDIENTS :

1 pound Fresh Mozzarella

3-4 ripe Salad Tomatoes (washed)

8 fresh Basil Leaves (washed & dried)

3 tablespoons Italian Olive Oil

Sea Salt & Black Pepper

1. Slice the Mozzarella into 8 equal slices.

2. Place the Basil leaves one-on-top-of-the other. Roll them up. Slice the roll of basil leaves to get thin slices of Basil.

3. Put half the olive oil onto a plate. Slice the tomatoes into 12 equal slices. Place the tomato slices down on the plate of olive to coat each tomato slice with olive oil. Turn each slice over. Sprinkle a little salt and black pepper over each slice of tomato. Evenly distribute the Basil over all 12 slices of tomato.

4. Get 4 clean plates that you will be serving the Caprese Salad on.

5. Place one slice of tomato down on the plate. Then lay one slice of mozzarella halfway over the tomato slice. Add another slice of tomato to go halfway over the 1^st slice of mozzarella, then place another slice of mozzarella halfway over the 2^nd slice of tomato. Place a 3^rd and final slice of tomato over the 2^nd slice of mozzarella. Repeat this process until you have four plates of Caprese Salad of equal portions. Serve to your guests and enjoy.