Simple caprese salad with fresh heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella. So fresh, so good and so easy to make!
If you read my blog on a regular basis you probably know that I am training for a half marathon in August. This experience has been one of the best since moving to Madison because not only have I met some fabulous friends in my running/training group but I also feel great, am running all around the beautiful city of Madison and have my running groove back. When I first started running, back when I was living in San Francisco in 2000, I was running with a friend who was trying to lose weight because she was about to get married . . yes, the wedding dress. I’m so glad I joined her because that was the beginning of my love for running.
Last weekend, after an 8 mile run, in the rain .. this was an experience let me tell you .. Laura, Jayne and I and our families met back up at Jayne’s house for a BBQ. I made this simple caprese salad after seeing this one on Food 52’s IG feed.
Caprese salads are a summer staple for me. Especially when I can get my hands on beautiful heirloom tomatoes. I’ve probably mentioned this before here on the blog but I’ve come a long way with food you guys. . years ago, a co-worker of mine had an heirloom tomato hook-up. Yes, there is such a thing because I seriously got a huge box full of organic heirloom tomatoes for like $5.
Like, we’re talking maybe a 5 to 7 lb. box of tomatoes. Anyway, this guy comes into my cube at work and sees the heirloom tomatoes and says, “Wow! That’s a whole lot of heirloom tomatoes. What are you going to do with them?” and I reply, “Uh, I dunno. . I’m thinking of making tomato sauce.” And he goes on to explain to me that using heirloom tomatoes for tomato sauce would be like using your best tasting, best quality, expensive gourmet chocolate to make chocolate milk. You simply don’t do that. You just eat the chocolate in it’s pure form, so you can taste it and experience it.
So, that was the day I learned that you simply eat heirloom tomatoes. You enjoy them. You don’t need to cook them. You don’t make tomato sauce. You enjoy them straight up with fresh mozzarella or burrata with a healthy drizzle of your finest extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
So, that’s what I did here. And, for this simple caprese salad, it’s all about presentation. Aren’t the colors just stunning?! And people can take however much they want and drizzle the olive oil and vinegars to their hearts’ content. It makes a great appetizer. You need to make this for your next summer dinner party or gathering.
And while I’m at it, you have one more day to enter my Round Pond giveaway. . I’m giving away a full set (8 bottles) of their best-flavored olive oils, vinegars and syrups. This stuff is amazing. Truly. So, enter the giveaway!!
Happy Friday you guys! Wishing everyone a fabulous, sun filled weekend.
Simple Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 heirloom tomatoes all different colors, sliced
- 6 to 8 oz package fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese sliced
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- extra virgin olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- kosher salt if desired
Instructions
- Using a large round platter, arrange the tomato slices and mozzarella in a repeating fashion, slightly overlapping them as you arrange around the platter. You can either place a single (or few) fresh basil leaves in between each tomato and mozzarella slice or place a few around the platter.
- Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with a little salt if desired. Serve and enjoy!
