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Authentic Caprese Recipe
Capri Island, Italy
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We strongly advise you to read the cooking tips before jumping to the recipe though
Introduction & history
This simple summer salad requires only a few ingredients that must be of the highest possible quality if you want to do this salad justice. Slices of soft, creamy mozzarella and vine-ripened tomatoes are arranged on a plate, sprinkled with basil leaves, seasoned with salt and optionally pepper, and then drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. If you want to stay true to the authentic recipe, you should use only buffalo mozzarella produced in the Campania region or treccia di Sorrento, a type of braided mozzarella cheese. On the other hand, it is best to use large tomato varieties, although recipes in southern Italy will sometimes call for semi-green ones. Typically, only one tomato variety is used in the salad, but chefs often advise that you use a few different varieties to improve texture and flavor. Basil leaves should be preferably large and torn by hand and olive oil as pristine as possible, meaning only ones labeled extra-virgin will suffice. This refreshing salad is eaten ... Read more
Pair with
Cooking tips
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mozzarella
The number one rule when choosing mozzarella is that it should be as fresh as possible. It is stated that for the perfect insalata Caprese, you should use mozzarella made the same day you decide the prepare the salad, and if it’s any older, use it to make pizza. Depending on where you live, an authentic, high-quality mozzarella that’s used in the main recipe may be almost impossible to find. In that ... Read more -
tomatoes
Caprese salad is by default a summer dish and should be made only with sun-kissed tomatoes packed with sweetness. Typically recipes call for big beefy tomatoes, but some, like in southern Italy, use semi-green tomatoes that provide acidity that nicely contrasts the rich mozzarella cheese and sweet basil. Salting the tomatoes before you start preparing the salad will bring out the juices you can then ... Read more -
method
Traditionally both the mozzarella and the tomatoes are thickly sliced and then arranged on a plate. Alternatively, you may dice them or for a more rustic feel, tear the mozzarella instead of slicing it. An authentic Caprese salad is never made with balsamic vinegar, although you will find many recipes that call for it, even though balsamic vinegar only ruins the taste of mozzarella. Another thing ... Read more -
variations
Variations and twists on the original recipe include serving the salad in a sandwich, which should be served cold and not grilled, making Caprese salad skewers, or using the salad as a topping for bruschettas. Additional ingredients often include pesto, pine nuts, and avocado. It’s not unusual to see recipes that mix the salad with pasta and then bake the whole dish or add chicken meat and crispy ... Read more -
basil
When it comes to basil, some chefs prefer smaller leaves for mainly esthetic reasons, however, large and fresh basil leaves are the ones that are packed with flavor and fragrance. You can keep them whole or tear them with hands only. Do not chop the basil with scissors as that will ruin the taste of the herb. -
serving
Perhaps somewhat unusual to outsiders, but in Italy, Caprese salad is served as a main course, meant to be eaten as a stand-alone meal without any bread. Alternatively, it may also be served before the main course as an antipasto, or after, but in Italy, salads are mostly eaten after the main course.
Italian Academy of Cuisine's Insalata Caprese
PREP 10min
READY IN 10min
Published by the Italian Academy of Cuisine, this is the official recipe for insalate caprese. They suggest that you use mozzarella made from raw cow's milk, namely one produced with milk from prized Agerolese cows, or treccia di Sorrento that is shaped in the form of a braid. Alternatively, you may dice the ingredients instead od slicing them and combine them by tossing them in a bowl.
Ingredients
1.2 kg (2 2/3 lbs) tomatoes, large and vine-ripened
600g (1 1/3 lbs) mozzarella, cow's milk
basil
extra-virgin olive oil
salt
Preparation
Step 1/4
Slice the mozzarella and then cut up tomatoes crosswise in slices taking care that both are approximately the same thickness.
Step 2/4
Arrange them on a plate by alternating and overlapping tomato and mozzarella slices.
Step 3/4
Sprinkle with either whole or chopped basil leaves.
Step 4/4
Serve with olive oil and salt so that each person can season to taste.
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