Insalata Caprese (Tomato and Mozzarella Salad)

Caprese Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, Basil and Olive Oil

The beauty and simplicity of Italian cooking is loved and admired all over the world. The Italian philosophy of taking simple, good quality fresh ingredients and allowing them to shine are the very building blocks of Italian cooking. These building blocks can be seen perfectly in this classic Insalata Caprese (Tomato and Mozzarella Salad).

The links between this beautiful, light summery salad and the Italian isle of Capri, where the dish gains it's name from, is rather tenuous. Stories, myths and legends of the dishes creation are many, too many to go into detail. However, one solid connection between the salad and it's Caprese homeland is that in 1930 the head chef of Hotel Quisisana, on the Isle of Capri, created a salad for his guests using tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil. Some believe, like Pizza Margherita, the salad was created as a celebration of unification, clearly showing the red, white and green of the Italian flag.

My own personal belief, for what it is worth, is based on the ingredients used. Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil, although found all over Italy, are the four cornerstone ingredients in the cooking of the Campania region of southern Italy, of which the Isle of Capri is part of. Whatever it's origins and history, the classic Caprese salad is a delightful, light dish loved the world over.

My Caprese Salad

The true beauty of this salad is it's simplicity . . . Four quality ingredients, seasoned and enjoyed. I like to use heirloom tomatoes, the variety of colours, shapes and subtle flavours give the salad added texture and taste, not to mention the vibrant appeal of the colours heirloom tomatoes give to the dish.

The only real advice I can give when making this salad is quality and simplicity. Whatever tomatoes you use, they should be fresh, ripe and firm, the mozzarella (ideally buffalo but any mozzarella will do) should be good quality, the basil should be fresh and vibrant green and the olive oil ideally extra virgin olive oil. Take these four perfect ingredients, add a good twist of black black pepper and salt, and you are on to an instant winner.

Whether you are entertaining guests, catering for a family BBQ, cooking a romantic dinner for two or just simply knocking up a quick easy lunch for yourself, you really can't go wrong with a Caprese salad.

Ingredients

5 ripe, firm tomatoes of your choice (Heirloom, Roma, Beefsteak . . . )

2 Balls Buffalo Mozzarella

Fresh Basil

Good quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and Fresh Black Pepper

To make . . .

1. Cut the tomatoes carefully into slices around 1cm thick. Place on a plate and sprinkle with a pinch of salt which will not just season the tomatoes but also remove a little moisture and firm then up a little adding texture to the dish.

   
   

2. Slice the mozzarella into rounds, around the same thickness as the tomatoes.

   
   

3. Arrange the tomatoes and mozzarella on to a plate (or into a bowl), alternating between tomatoes and mozzarella.

   
   

4. Drizzle with olive oil, add a twist of black pepper and you're ready to go.