Caprese Salad with Tomato Mozzarella (Printable)

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

# Required Ingredients:

→ Produce

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

→ Dairy

03 - 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

→ Condiments

04 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1–2 tbsp balsamic glaze

→ Seasonings

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

# Directions:

01 - Arrange alternating slices of tomato and mozzarella on a large platter, slightly overlapping each piece to create an attractive presentation.
02 - Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella slices, distributing them evenly across the platter.
03 - Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil evenly over the entire salad, followed by the balsamic glaze in a thin, decorative pattern.
04 - Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately as a side dish or light appetizer.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in literally ten minutes, making it the ultimate emergency dish when people drop by unexpectedly
  • The balsamic glaze creates this gorgeous sweetness that balances the tomatoes acidity perfectly
02 -
  • The salad needs to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving—cold tomatoes just do not release the same flavor
  • I once skipped the balsamic glaze thinking it was optional, and the whole thing felt flat, like it was missing its personality
03 -
  • Use the sharpest knife you have for clean tomato slices—squished tomatoes make messy platters
  • The thickness of your mozzarella slices should match your tomatoes, or the proportions feel wrong in every bite
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