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Caprese Salad



Fresh summer tomatoes are candy from the garden. Not far from where I live is a little fruit and veggie stand where I can find Heirloom, beef steak and the sweetest little cherry tomatoes. I like to pick through and find unique shapes and colours which adds to the presentation of this fresh summer salad. Sliced tomatoes layered with Bocconcini soft cheese, fresh picked basil, a sprinkle of capers and then drizzled with a balsamic reduction just before serving.....such goodness!

There is no exact recipe for this other than the balsamic reduction, but I'll give you a few pointers on assembling this salad.



Wash and slice as many tomatoes as you need for the number of people you are serving.
1 200gram tub Bocconcini cheese (this will have 4 golf ball sized soft cheese balls) Slice as many as you will need to layer between tomatoes. 
Wash and dry fresh basil and tuck whole leaves between layers. If you can find some lavender basil it's very flavourful and makes a pretty garnish.
Add a sprinkling of capers, and if you like add some cherry and grape tomatoes for garnish. 

Balsamic Reduction:
  • 3/4 cup good quality balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  1. In a small sauce pan heat the two ingredients together until it comes to a boil.
  2. Turn it down to simmer and allow mixture to reduce to about 1/2. This will take about 10-15 minutes. The mixture should thicken slightly so that when you put a spoon into it, it coats the spoon but is still able to be poured. Remove from heat and cool.
  3. When ready to serve salad drizzle cooled balsamic reduction dressing over salad. 

8 comments:

  1. Yum, such summer goodness! I am going to try this...where would I find the cheese you mentioned? It's new to me...thanks!

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    Replies
    1. It's usually in the deli section, in a container similar to a sour cream container.

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  2. Any grocery store (in Canada, anyway) should have bocconcini cheese in the refrigerated cheese section near the Deli department. It comes in several sizes.

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  3. Sounds delicious except for the basil - neither my taster nor my tummy like it. I will try it without it and also with dill.

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  4. Could you give an example of a good quality balsamic vinegar?

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    Replies
    1. Bev here - I really like the Safeway brand. It's less expensive than many other brands and is still good a tasting balsamic from Modena, Italy. (We actually visited there several years ago!)

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  5. Looks so pretty I'd hate to eat it!

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  6. I like the idea of using various colored tomatoes to mix it up; I have several yellow tomoato volunteers in the garden and have not been using them well. Letting them go to waste or popping the little cherry size ones in my mouth in the garden. Lovely idea.

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