Caprese
“Insalata Caprese (salad in the style of Capri) is a simple salad from the Italian region of Campania, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes and basil. It is seasoned with salt, black pepper, and olive oil.” (Wiki).
This Salad is also known as a Tricolore salad as it has all the 3 colors of the Italian flag. As all other recipes, that evolve over time, this one has it’s own variations too. I saw the cubed version at the Smitten Kitchen & Closet Cooking, & made it right away for my lunch. I had the Basil Pesto ready at hand & I used the pesto in the salad too. I know, it is not the traditional way to to make the Caprese, but a little bit of homemade pesto would not hurt one time, would it?
I encountered these irresistible REDS in the local Farmers Market. They sang out loud to me to take them home. Of course I would take them home, esp. at 69 cents a pound! I bought about 9 lbs of the Cluster Red Vine Ripes – no regrets. There is no better way to eat red vine ripe tomatoes, but to eat them fresh, right?.
Caprese
Ingredients:
- Fresh Red Tomatoes, Diced
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Diced
- Basil Pesto
- Very Good Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Sea Salt
- Fresh Basil Leaves
Preparation:Combine the tomatoes & the cheese. Add the pesto & toss everything together.
Finish off with a good drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Black Pepper, some salt & Fresh Basil.
The Perfect Joy of Fresh & Simple!
My Notes: Since this Salad has very few ingredients, make sure that you use only the fresh & the best ingredients.
Weekend Herb Blogging #204 is hosted by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook. The Caprese is being sent over to Susan.
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Tags: 5 minute salad, Basil, basil pesto, caprese salad, capri, capri style, cheese, cubed caprese, cuisine, diced caprese, easy tomato salad, fresh mozzarella, how to make insalata caprese, insalata caprese, italian salad, itialian, light lunch, local, lunch for salad, mozzarella, refreshing, Salad, salad with few ingredients, simple salad, summer, summer salad, tomato & cheese, tomato cheese & basil, tomato salad, Tricolore, what is caprese
October 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Lovely salad and lovely pictures. What more can I say?
October 9th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
WOW! This looks beautiful with all the combo colours and of course Yummy too
October 10th, 2009 at 12:16 am
I love all your salad recipes… incredibly quick to put together
October 10th, 2009 at 3:21 am
Looks lovely, too bad fresh basil is hard to find here, though it grows v well in our hot climate. I have tomatoes and the cheese, maybe I’ll just settle for no-basil.
October 10th, 2009 at 4:24 am
Caprese is my all time favourite salad. I love it drizzled with a balsamic dressing. Mmmmm
October 10th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Looks beautiful, Soma.
October 10th, 2009 at 5:02 am
It is indeed hard to resist buying such beautiful produce. The salad looks beautiful.
October 10th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Very quick & colorful salad….loved the photos.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:39 am
I love caprese salads and you’re right; they come in so many varieties. The flavours are simple but soooo delicious and fresh!
October 10th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Caprese! What a delicious, vibrant salad and one of my favorites. I get a great vegan mozzarella that tastes like the real thing, and would love to try your version soon.
Thanks for the invite to Texas– same goes for yoiu and family if you happen to come the DC way!
October 10th, 2009 at 8:10 am
That seems just my kind of salad! Maybe I could omit the cheese and add something else instead though I wonder whether the kids would settle for anything other than the cheese!
October 10th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Lovely salad, colors and flavors! A delicious dish!
Cheers,
Rosa
October 10th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Caprese is one my favorite salads,never miss making it whenever I buy fresh mozzarella,yum!.Congrats on winning another DMBLGIT award
October 10th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Those are the most vibrant tomatoes I’ve ever seen!! I love this – cubed – how simple but so delicious.
October 10th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
nice colors looks gorgeous.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Gorgeous! Caprese is always my favorite!
October 10th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
The combination of tomatoes,basil and cheese is just out of this world and your click as usual is gorgeous,Soma!Very few restaurants offer Caprese..I believe there are a couple of pizzerias that offer this…
October 11th, 2009 at 3:18 am
Just a few tweaks of a classic and it’s a whole new dish! This salad is a best-of-summer treat.
Thanks for sharing it with WHB, Soma. : )
October 11th, 2009 at 5:26 am
one of my favourites. basil and cheese and tomatoes – can’t think of how anyone can’t like this one!
October 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Caprese salad is one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh tomatoes. And you are so right, a little bit of pesto sauce is never a bad thing!
October 11th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
This is definitely my type of salad. I love adding a kind of cheese into such salad. And extra virgin oil gives it a more outstanding flavor. I love to eat such salads at breakfast. YUM!
October 11th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
One can never have enough of such a good(looks & taste) salad. Hope u r all fine now soma.
October 11th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I hope you feel better! that looks beautiful as always.
October 11th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Simple yet delicious.I too make it thgh I cut the mozzarella in rounds and add fresh basil.The pesto sounds equally delish
October 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Have to say the simplest recipes are usually the best. Allows the flavour of each ingredient to show up in the dish.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Your caprese salad looks really good. I liked how wondrously fresh, simple and good it was!
October 12th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Fresh salad is always loved.
Ki vibrant dekhte tomato gulo! Tomar baganer uccher photo koi? 
Hope tumi ager chaite bhalo acho .. pain komeche.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Very easy to put together and kind of salad I love! Very appetizing!
October 12th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Mmm, simple and fresh. These are the best dishes. I love caprese salads, one of my favorites. It’s a perfect warm weather dish. Beautiful bright color!
October 12th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I just love this salad!!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Delicious salad !! Perfect in combo of health n taste !!
October 13th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
look at those colors! so pretty!