Easy Caprese Salad

Originally published on August 28, 2014

Caprese Salad is one of my absolute most favoritestest (a typo I refuse to fix) things to eat in the whole universe!  It’s uber easy to assemble and so delicious.  I eat Caprese at least twice a week, especially in summer.  I’ve grown my own basil for years and I love to use it as much as possible.  To keep things light, I sometimes omit the mozarella.  Such a colorful and beautiful dish, it also photographs really well.  I loved the last pic I took of my Caprese so much that I used it in my blog banner.  Then I ate the crap out of it! LoL


Easy Caprese Salad 

Ingredients:

• 8oz. ball of fresh mozarella cheese
• about 8oz cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 15-20 fresh basil leaves, depending on size (I love tons of huge leaves!)
• balsamic vinegar
• extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt
• cracked pepper

Slice mozarella or dice it, however you prefer.  Slice tomatoes in half and add to cheese.  Pull stems off of basil and discard; add leaves to salad.  Drizzle olive oil and balsamic to taste.  Finish with salt and ground pepper.  Enjoy!!
For variation try slicing your tomatoes & cheese differently, or use large tomatoes.  Break up your basil or leave them whole.  Use dried oregano as a topper.  Get creative!

Here is a way old pic of my very first Caprese Salad!