Caprese Salad — the Classic Italian Salad with Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 4 large ripe tomatoes (about 600 g)
• 2 balls of fresh mozzarella (about 250 g total)
• 1 bunch of fresh basil leaves
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (optional)

Preparation

1. Wash the tomatoes and basil in cold water and pat dry lightly with kitchen paper.
2. Cut the tomatoes into thick slices of about 5 mm and the mozzarella into similar slices.
3. Arrange the slices on a flat plate, alternating: a slice of tomato, a slice of mozzarella, a basil leaf.
4. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
5. Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil evenly over the salad.
6. If you like, add a few drops of balsamic vinegar for a deeper flavor.
7. Let the salad rest for 5 minutes at room temperature so the flavors meld, then serve immediately with fresh bread.

Prep time: 10 minutes | Servings: 4 | Difficulty: very easy