Caprese Salad

There is a basil plant that lives by a window in my kitchen and it proves to be a favorite addition to recipes time and again. Trader Joe’s has beautiful living basil plants that are inexpensive, sometimes even less cost than buying a bundle of picked basil, so you might as well enjoy a live plant for a while! The plant will last until too many waterings are missed, or it gets snipped beyond being able to produce more, but then you have an excuse to go to Trader Joe’s again, right? If you treat it lovingly, it could last a for a year or more!

Two things inspired this simple Caprese Salad to be on the dinner menu - one was a brand new and flourishing basil plant, the second was a walk through the Farmers Market and finding beautiful heirloom tomatoes (and it’s not tomato season). An idea is born.

In Italian, Caprese Salad is insalata caprese, meaning salad of capri. This is simply sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. It is so simple but yet produces a beautiful presentation for guests! (or just for yourself! 😀)

Simply slice the tomatoes and arrange them on a platter, then place sliced fresh mozzarella and basil on top. Drizzle with a balsamic reduction and you are done. Beautiful, simple, and yummy!

If you love these flavors, another favorite recipe is Quinoa Caprese Salad. It is a little more filling and an excellent way to use tomatoes when you have an abundance! Enjoy!