Let’s see, how shall I say this? Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad equals the flavors of Italy x 1000!
Anything roasted, even your sneaker, is going to taste amazing…but tomatoes with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic??!! Then coupled with mozzarella and fresh basil?!
You know what I’m talking about!
This salad, inspired by Ina Garten so many years ago, has become a staple in our house…maybe it will yours too!
Begin with slicing 12 Roma tomatoes in half, lengthwise, removing the seeds but not the core.
Mince two cloves of garlic.
Ready your olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper, then drizzle away…
Notice that warm amber and deep rich chestnut color of your oil and vinegar…just beautiful.
Top your tomatoes with minced garlic, salt and pepper…
Now they’re all dressed up and ready for a 275 degree oven for 2 hours…
In the meantime, slice your mozzarella. 🙂 (I dare you not to eat a piece.)
Time’s up! After two hours in a low temp oven, we have jammy roasted tomatoes, so elegant and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Look at that! So satisfying! Does it get any better?
Let the tomatoes come to room temperature before building your masterpiece!
Now the fun part…
Layer your mozzarella and tomatoes…
One more little drizzle of olive oil and a tiny sprinkling of salt and pepper!
Top with your julienned basil…and MANGIA!
The perfect salad or side-dish as fresh tomatoes make their long awaited appearance at the open air markets!!
One word…Perfetto!!!!!
Buon Appetito!
MORE SALADS:
Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad
Description
Let’s see, how shall I say this? This Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad equals the flavors of Italy x 1000!
Ingredients
12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeds (not cores) removed
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus more for serving
1 1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 large garlic cloves, minced
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 ounces fresh mozzarella
handful fresh basil leaves, julienned
Instructions
Preheat oven to 275 F.
Arrange the tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut side up, in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Sprinkle with minced garlic, salt and pepper.
Roast for 2 hours until the tomatoes are concentrated and begin to caramelize. Allow the tomatoes to cool to room temperature.
Cut the mozzarella into thin slices, less than 1/2-inch thick. If the slices of mozzarella are larger than the tomatoes, cut the mozzarella slices in half.
Layer the tomatoes alternately with the mozzarella on a platter and scatter the basil on top.
Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
Serve at room temperature.
I am planning to make this for company this week. Can it be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Then brought to room temp for serving? Or at least can the tomatoes be roasted a day ahead?
It will be fine to roast the tomatoes a day ahead, then build the salad the day you’re serving. Enjoy!
I made this and it looked beautiful and tasted fantastic! Thank you!
Thank you so much for stopping by with a kind word, Jan!!
This is the perfect summer recipe with all the ingredients to make a great caprese salad. I love how you created it to look so good. A wonderful healthy comfort food.
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Your photos are beautiful, my friend! No wonder you were recently featured in a magazine 😉 My hubby would love this!
Ahhh! So sweet! Thank you, my friend!
This is absolutely my kind of summer salad Annie! So easy, so much flavor and perfect for summer guests at the beach! Pinned!
Perfect beach-time nosh!! 🙂
Such drool worthy photos! I really love this idea. Especially if no really ripe tomatoes are available. Thanks!
The perfect taste of summer anytime of the year!! Thanks, Mimi!
I adore this salad, Annie! Absolutely beautiful and some of my favorite flavors – love that you roasted the tomatoes for that extra depth of flavor. A hunk of crusty bread and dinner is done. Heavenly!
Yep – pass the bread, please! Thanks, Marissa!!
I have never tried a roasted tomato caprese salad and now that I’ve seen this, it’s all I will think about until I make it 🙂 Looks perfect!
Yay! Enjoy, my friend!
My two favorites: Delicious and Easy!!
That’s what we’re all about!! Thanks, Kay!
This looks incredible! Definitely going to make this!
You will love it!
This is Matt’s favorite salad! It looks delish!!! Another success!! Xo
Thank you, Sweeta! Matt has good taste…in his salads… and his wifey! XO
You POOR THINGS!! How on earth did you suffer through all of that deliciousness?!! 😉 This looks fabulous! I can’t wait to try it! Love ya!
Hey! It was hard but somebody had to do it!!! Thanks, Sweeta! Love ya!