A simple starter from the island of Capri: ripe tomato slices alternating with fresh mozzarella and basil leaves, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

المقادير

4 large ripe tomatoes (or a mix of colourful heirloom tomatoes)

300 g fresh mozzarella cheese (buffalo mozzarella preferred)

A large handful of fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup high-quality extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (or balsamic glaze)

Coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

خطوات التحضير

Slice the tomatoes into roughly equal thickness slices (about half a centimetre).

Slice the mozzarella into slices of about the same thickness.

Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices alternately on a round or rectangular serving plate, overlapping them slightly.

Place a fresh basil leaf between each tomato and mozzarella slice.

Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the whole salad.

Add thin lines of balsamic vinegar over the top.

Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Serve immediately at room temperature for the best flavour (do not serve cold straight from the fridge).

نصيحة

Take the tomatoes and mozzarella out of the fridge at least half an hour before serving — cold temperatures mute their true flavours. Use the best olive oil you have, as it is the ingredient that makes the real difference in this simple dish.

Caprese salad is named after the enchanting Italian island of Capri off the coast of Naples, believed to have originated there in the 1930s. This simple salad embodies the spirit of Italian cuisine at its purest: a few high-quality ingredients left to speak for themselves without complication.

The salad's three colours — red, white and green — echo the Italian flag, and this is no coincidence but part of its intentional visual identity. The success of this simple dish lies entirely in the quality of its ingredients: fragrant, ripe tomatoes at the peak of season, fresh soft mozzarella (buffalo mozzarella preferred), fresh basil leaves, and a generous drizzle of the best extra virgin olive oil available.