The Ultimate Caprese Salad Food

CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Measure the balsamic vinegar and pour into a saucepan. Bring it to a gentle boil over a low heat. Cook it until the balsamic vinegar has reduced to a nice thick glaze (but still pourable), about 15 minutes. Oh and one other thing, your house will stink. But it's a good kind of stink, it's a vinegary stink. Allow the reduction to cool to room temperature before you serve it.
• When you are ready to assemble the salad, cut the tomatoes into thick slices. Arrange them on a platter, alternating them with the mozzarella slices. Tuck the whole basil leaves in between the tomato and cheese slices.
• Drizzle on the gorgeous, almost black balsamic reduction. Then drizzle olive oil in a thin stream over the top. Finally, sprinkle on salt and pepper.
• You need this in your life. Make it today my friends.

THE BEST CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Arrange tomato slices, mozzarella slices, and basil leaves on a serving plate, alternating between them. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

ULTIMATE CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Toss cherry tomatoes with 1 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl; season with salt.
• Arrange tomato slices on a platter, slightly overlapping; season generously with salt. Arrange mozzarella over tomatoes; lightly season mozzarella with salt. Spoon cherry tomatoes over salad and drizzle with 6 Tbsp. oil; season with pepper. Let stand 30 minutes to let flavors meld and release juices from tomatoes and mozzarella.
• Top salad with basil and additional salt and oil, if desired. Serve with bread alongside.

CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Arrange the tomatoes, cheese and basil on a serving platter. Whisk the vinaigrette ingredients; drizzle over salad. If desired, sprinkle with additional salt and pepper.

TRADITIONAL CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese to 1/4" thick slices.
• Place tomatoes and mozzarella alternately in a pattern around the perimeter of a small serving dish. Alternatively, for single serving dishes, place the mozzarella slices on top of the tomato slices, arranging for 8 servings (arrange for four servings, if using it as a main dish).
• Sprinkle the the salad sparsely with the olive oil.
• Sprinkle the salad lightly (or to taste) with the salt and ground black pepper.
• Place whole (or torn) basil leaves on top of the tomatoes and mozzarella, using pieces that roughly match the size of the tomato and mozzarella slices.
• Serve immediately.
• Note: do NOT allow the tomatoes and mozzarella sit in the oil for more than a short few minutes. The oil will just soak into the tomato and mozzarella and ruin the flavor. The oil is intended to be a garnish, and not a primary flavor in the dish.

CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Arrange the slices of tomato and mozzarella on a platter, alternating between slices of each, and sprinkle over the basil leaves. Season generously with salt and black pepper, then drizzle over the olive oil and vinegar. Serve straightaway.

CLASSIC CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• While mozzarella is cold, slice it into 1/4-inch slices. Let it sit, loosely covered, to come to room temperature while you prepare the tomatoes.
• Slice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick slices, leaving them in a single layer on the cutting board as you go. Sprinkle generously with salt.
• On a serving platter, arrange the mozzarella, tomato slices, and whole basil leaves so they overlap slightly. Pour any tomato juices from the cutting board over the dish. Sprinkle again with salt and pepper, and drizzle with plenty of oil. Top with reserved basil, and serve.