Insalata Caprese (salad in the style of Capri) is a simple salad from the Italian region of Campania, made of sliced fresh buffalo mozzarella,tomatoes and basil, seasoned with salt, and olive oil. In Italy, unlike most salads, it is usually served as an antipasto (starter), not a contorno (side dish).
Of course here in Kansas, it is very difficult to get fresh buffalo mozzarella (I do want to meet the man brave enough to milk a buffalo, but I digress). But I was able to find a fresh ball of mozzarella fior di latte, made from fresh pasteurized Cow's milk. Unlike the low moisture mozzarella found in most stores (the balls vacum sealed in plastic (which are fine for this as well), mozzarella fior di latte is usually found in a plastic Tupperware type box sitting in a pool of water. This type of cheese is best served fresh, within a day of purchase (and it should be purchased only on the day it is made).
Makes a great pizza... and I always save enough to make a lunch of this...
Keep scrolling down for this easy to follow recipe...
Keep scrolling down for this easy to follow recipe...
As with many Italian dishes, this is totally dependent on the freshest ingredients possible. I grow my Basil in a windowsill garden (even in winter) that gets me a fair amount of fresh basil (never enough, but some). I had bought the fresh mozzarella fior di latte the day I served this.
Recently I have found a source for Komato brand tomatoes. they are darker, almost brown than the bright red "standard" version of a tomato, but they more than make up for the color difference with the best tasting winter tomato I have ever eaten. If you see these, take a chance. The ones I have had are very good considering it is January in Kansas.
And, that's all you need...
Tomato
Mozzarella
Basil
Sliced and arranged attractively on a plate and served cold and ENJOYED!
And maybe just a bit of sea salt, nothing like a salted great tasting tomato to remind you that summer and all the fresh fruit is on it;s way!
Easy, but we deserve delicious.
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I spent too much time trying to pick a single decent tomato at the market this week. The only decent ones at the grocery store were $4.99/lb. Seriously? Winter blows!
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