Today’s post is mainly composed of silver and gold, red and green…
Soooo holiday!
Do you hear it? Burl Ives…disguised as a snowman wearing a checkered vest and a fedora, too?
Speaking of holiday – how was your Thanksgiving? Are you still full? Did everything run smoothly? I hope so! I however have a horror story to share which I will do in due time. I’m not quite ready…still getting over it… Mashed potatoes. Grrrr.
Unlike my potatoes, I can’t imagine there’s anything that could go wrong with today’s recipe for Hasselback Caprese Salad.
Edible ornaments?
I say yes!
You know, as much as I love the festive results of colored sparkles, a bit of glue and a few popsicle sticks – they’re nothing compared to the delicious results of Roma tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil.
I had the idea to add a drizzle of balsamic with a light pour of olive oil, a shake or two of kosher salt and a good grind of cracked black pepper to our accordion-style filled tomato ornaments. These additions give our traditional caprese salad made of tomato, mozzarella and basil, a little extra flashy pizzazz.
So if you’re designing Christmas dinner and are wanting a salad that’s outside the box…
Here you go!
Buon Appetito!
Print
Hasselback Caprese Salad
- Category: Salad
Ingredients
- 5 – 6 Roma tomatoes
- 1 lb. ball fresh mozzarella
- 1 bunch fresh basil (50 leaves)
- balsamic vinegar
- olive oil
- Kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Thinly slice each tomato to look like an accordion, being careful not to cut through the bottom.
- Cut thin slices of mozzarella and gently wedge them between the slices of tomato.
- Next, tear leaves from the bunch of basil and using a butter knife, gently insert the leaves alongside the mozzarella.
- Drizzle balsamic and olive oil over the tomatoes and finish with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve.
Ciao!
My favorite salad- in the form of Christmas ornament! These look so cool Annie! Love them! Great photos as always!
It’s one of my favorites, too! Thanks, Mira!! 🙂
Oh wow! How brilliant is this flashy hasselback caprese salad- this would be such a joy to eat and look at – BRILLIANT!
Thank you, Shashi! Can never have enough flashy hasselback caprese salads! 🙂
A true classic salad! Love when the tomatoes are ripe and the mozzarella & basil are fresh! 🙂 This is a weekly salad in our house during the summer months..yummy! 🙂
Oh yessss – we’re bringing a little bit of summer to our holiday table! A true gift! 🙂 Thanks, friend!
OH. MY. GOSH. Love how vibrant and gorgeous this caprese salad looks, Annie. So delicious and festive — perfect for this holiday season! 🙂
Thank you, Anu!! Its color and flavor definitely packs a festive punch! 🙂
Hehe… little ornaments! Yesss! A perfect description! Now what is it with the mashed potatoes? I find that they can go south real quick, and mine have.. they ended up like mortar on several occasions! ! Thanksgiving was really, really fabulous! We went to a little farm to table restaurant here in town and were spoiled with fabulous service and the most delicious feast of the year! I had veggie perogies for the first time and was completely inspired! Loved it… then a walk helped us digest our dinner with a cozy evening by the fire. Just perfect. Thank you for these little jewels my dear!
Oh my…I’d say that was a fabulous day for you and Rob! You have taken me on your journey and it is beautiful! So happy you had a perfect day! And believe me, mine was perfect even with the potato situation! Hahahaha! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Genius! These are so beautiful, Annie! I love this idea and am pinning for sure. As for the mashed potatoes, I am notorious for making bad mashed potatoes. In my defense, my daughter won’t eat them, so I haven’t had much practice. I look forward to hearing about your escapade. 🙂
Thank you, my dear! These are as yummy as they are pretty. Oh yes…potatoes. I learned a very valuable lesson that day! 🙂
Oh no! So sorry you had a horrific mashed potato experience on Thanksgiving! Hopefully it was nothing as bad as them ending up on the ceiling or something totally crazy! Boy was sick so we ended up staying home.. pretty boring. Anyways, I LOVE these edible ornaments, Annie! Hasselback caprese? Count me in! So pretty and SO delicious! Absolutely perfect in my book! Pinned! Cheers, my dear! Xoxo
Hahaha! Not as bad as ending up on the ceiling but baaaaad! Sorry Boy was so sick 🙁 Hope you at least got to watch movies and drink cocoa all day! Thanks my dear…I thought these a fun and presentational way to eat Caprese. Thanks for the pin! xo
I love caprese! These are almost too gorgeous to eat (almost!). Such a fun and creative idea, Annie!
I hear you…but eat them anyway – we can always make more! 🙂 Thanks, Danielle!
Caprese is my absolute fave!!! Love this hasselback version- the presentation is just unreal 🙂 Pinning!
I can never resist this combination, either! Thanks for the pin, my friend!
This is gorgeous, Annie! I love caprese anything and this is such a fun and festive way to serve it! So perfect for the holidays!
I couldn’t resist their festive colors! Thanks, Kelly! 🙂
Yum. You’ve made one of my fave summer salads into beautiful holiday fare. Love that.
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall….always a favorite! Thanks, friend!
This is such a gorgeous salad Annie! We had our Canadian Thanksgiving a month ago so I’m not stuffed to the brim at all, and am perfectly ready to make like 100 of these because they’re so beautiful!!
Yes! Thank you!! Go for it, milady!! Enjoy! 🙂
Firstly, I could eat fresh mozzarella, basil, & tomatoes every day of my life. No joke. Secondly, what is up with the T-day horror story tease? I need to know what happened with the mashed taters now!!! I may never forgive you for making me wait but probably will since you came up with this awesome recipe 🙂
That is no joke. I get it…I am with you, sister! Caprese, everyday!! Okay – sorry – you’ll just have to wait. I need to correct the error of my ways and present the story along with the correct way for doing! Thanks for your forgiveness. I needed that! xo
I love caprese salad. I sort of turn into a mozzarella monster whenever I get around the real awesome fresh stuff. But I’ve never seen it in an accordion style like this before. This is a really great presentation. Very eye-catching.
Anytime you combine romas, mozzarella and basil – you’re in business! Thanks, my friend!
Yum, Annie – I love all things caprese and this is a delicious version. I could eat this everyday for lunch – so simple and pretty!
This will make for a very convenient and tasty lunch. Not to mention bright and cheery! Thanks, dear! 🙂
Annie!!!! This is brilliant!!! what a great idea!!!!!!
Thanks, Alice!!!! 🙂
Annie! I love this idea! so practical and simple! almost too pretty to eat! Cheers!
Almost too pretty – but perfect for the holiday! Thanks, dear!! 🙂
I’m definitely still full. My stomach has revolted and I need some time off from eating.
But these could change my mind! I’ve seen hasselback potatoes before, but doing it with caprese is pretty genius of you. So pretty, too! And holiday colors to boot!
Such a fun and simple idea! I promise it will help aid digestion. Maybe promise is a big word…I hope it will… 😉 Thank you, my dear!!
I feel like singing “That’s Amore” — I love the Italian flag colors!! I’ve been wanting to make Hasselback potatoes and this is so perfect. I will take caprese any way I can get it but now with a potato?? Perfection. By the way, did I mention that we have lots of potatoes what with the big sale on them at Thanksgiving. Now I have to figure a way to use them. This is wonderful!! Love your photos and I can’t wait to hear all about the mash potato caper.
Yessss! One of my favorite tunes!! So happy you have what you need for this fun tomato salad!! Enjoy, my friend! 🙂
This is such a fun and festive salad, Annie! Not to mention that it’s full of my favorite ingredients. What a perfect holiday dish!
Thank you, Gayle! I know you love your Caprese!! 🙂