Insalata Caprese...
This month's great Italian recipes will concentrate on starters (or antipasti). This classic starter, Insalata Caprese (or Capri style salad), is a simple salad from the Italian region of Campania (originally part of the Greek colonies of southern Italy). The main ingredients (like Pizza Margherita but uncooked) represent the colors of the Italian flag.Ingredients:
- 14 oz mozzarella (fresh buffalo mozzarella in water)
- 4 tomatoes (round, firm, and ripe)
- 8 leaves (4 leaves thinly sliced crosswise)
- 2 TBL olive oil
- salt and white pepper
- Remove mozzarella balls from liquid and dry with paper towel.
- Cut mozzarella balls into 1/4" slices and set aside.
- Wash tomatoes and cut into 1/4" slices crosswise and place slices on a paper towel.
- Place 1 TBL oil in center of serving plate.
- Place one slice of mozzarella on the serving plate. Dip the center of one tomato slice into the oil on the serving plate and place on top and to the side of the mozzarella. Continue until serving plate is full.
- Drizzle remaining oil over serving plate.
- Salt and pepper (to taste).
- Sprinkle sliced basil over serving place and place remaining basil leaves in the center. Buon Appetito!
- This dish should be prepared just before serving. If necessary, the ingredients can be prepared and placed in the refrigerator before the final preparation but not for too long.
- Unorthodox variations of this dish, include: oregano or arugula (rucola) can replace the basil, onion slices can be added, balsamic vinegar can be added to complement the olive oil, pesto can be added, artichoke hearts or capers can be added to complement the fresh mozzarella.
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