Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad...1,2,3,4,5!!

Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad…If I called it Caprese Salad, I wouldn’t have been able to post the other options so let’s go with the long name and make use of all the options one by one…ensure you have some crusty bread to go along with this (yes, yes I know the bread/carb addict in me thinks that the world is a better place because of bread), some nice chilled wine and old friends for company (read gossip)

Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella salad

Ingredients:

• Tomatoes, washed and sliced into ¼ thick slices, 3-4 
• Fresh Mozzarella, sliced into ¼ thick slices, about 250gms
• Fresh Basil leaves, cut into thin slices or tear into pieces or kept whole, 8-10

Dressing Option 1: (pictured)

• Salt, 1/4 tsp
• Black pepper, freshly ground, 1/4 tsp 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tbsp

Dressing Option 2:

• Salt, 1/4 tsp
• Black pepper, freshly ground, 1/4 tsp 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tbsp
• Balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp

Dressing Option 3:

• Salt, 1/4 tsp
• Black pepper, freshly ground, 1/4 tsp 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tbsp
• Balsamic Vinegar, 1 tbsp
• Dijon Mustard, ½ tsp

Dressing Option 4:

• Salt, 1/4 tsp
• Black pepper, freshly ground, 1/4 tsp 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tbsp
• Balsamic Vinegar, 1 tbsp
• Dijon Mustard, ½ tsp
• Honey, 1 tsp
• Garlic, minced, ½ tsp

Dressing Option 5:

• Salt, 1/4 tsp
• Black pepper, freshly ground, 1/4 tsp 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tbsp
• Balsamic Vinegar, ½ cup

Instructions:

Alternate tomato and mozzarella slices on a platter overlapping the slices.  .
Add the basil. Sprinkle on top if cut up. If kept whole arrange in between the slices.
Option 1: Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the oil. Serve immediately at room temperature.
Option 2, 3, 4: Whisk all dressing ingredients and drizzle over the salad. Serve immediately at room temperature or cool for an hour in the fridge before serving.
Option 5: Put balsamic vinegar in a smallest pan you have and reduced to a thick glaze on low flame – about 10-12 minutes. Keep a watch on it and don’t walk away from the stove! Keep aside till it cools completely. Sprinkle the salad with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the oil and then add then with a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar reduction. Serve immediately at room temperature.

Notes:

• And yes the tomatoes that you see have been cut thinner than the required ¼ “ thick but that’s what happens when you pass on the job to someone who hardly ever steps into the kitchen while you are busy making your mozzarella slices into perfect little round discs with a cookie cutter!!..Did I say old friends? nah…should have said best friends forever!!J

• Feel free to adjust quantities of dressing ingredients to your taste

• You can add capers, black olives or kalmata olives if you want.

• You can add mixed greens of your choice and arrange the tomato and cheese on top of the greens.