Caprese Salad with Marinated Fresh Mozzarella
Caprese salads are simple by definition, and usually only consist of tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella cheese and olive oil. But here’s the thing… fresh mozzarella, in spite of all of its many virtues, can be a bit of a yawner in the flavor department. In this recipe, the fresh mozzarella is given a little more personality by marinating it in olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and tons of herbs. I think you will find this to be a game changer in all things Caprese. The only thing missing here is a loaf of artisan bread and a bottle of wine….
Ingredients
- FOR THE MARINATED MOZARELLA
- 1- cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 4 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh ‘soft’ herbs oregano, parsley, tarragon, thyme, savory, marjoram, or a combination of whatever suits your taste OR about 2 tablespoons of your favorite dried herb combination
- Zest from 2 lemons
- 1 teaspoon pink peppercorns optional
- Kosher or sea salt and red pepper flakes to taste
- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice for serving
- FOR THE SALAD
- 6-7 vine ripened tomatoes – as many different colors and sizes as you can get your hands on
- 1 pound of fresh mozzarella cheese
- About 20 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- FOR THE MARINATED MOZARELLA
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, chopped herbs, lemon zest, peppercorns, red pepper flakes and salt.
- Slice the fresh mozzarella into ¼ inch slices and lay in a shallow bowl. Pour the marinade over the top and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight.
- TO MAKE THE SALAD
- Slice the tomatoes and arrange on a platter.
- Remove the fresh mozzarella from the marinade and arrange on the plate among the tomatoes.
- Arrange the fresh basil leaves around the cheese and tomatoes – NOTE: If you want to, go on ahead and thinly slice the basil leaves, but don’t slice until right before serving since they have a tendency to get very dark and look unappetizing quickly after being cut.
- Take the reserved marinade, stir in the 6 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, and adjust seasonings to taste. You can either drizzle this over the entire platter, or serve on the side as a dressing.