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RESIDENT RECIPE Easy Caprese Salad

The suburban kitchen summertime means tomatoes – especially where we have hot summers! And one of the easiest and most delicious salads of summer is a beautiful Caprese Salad. Caprese is also known as Insalata in Italian, and it is one of the prize dishes found in Italian cuisine and especially Capri. Caprese salad dates back to the 1920’s in post-World War

Ingredients

2 large heirloom tomatoes plus cherry tomatoes (optional) handful fresh basil leaves (washed and dried)

8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup of white balsamic vinegar (can use dark if that’s all you have)

½ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper

Can be made ahead of time and bring to room temperature before serving.

by Shelly Gantenbein

An Italian patriot wanted to create a dish that represented the Italian flag: red, white and green. In later years it is reported that King Farouk, looking for a light afternoon snack, received a Caprese sandwich prepared by his chef. Following that, the salad became a staple of Italian cuisine. This salad brings a large platter of sliced garden tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese arranged to look like the Italian flag. It’s light and fresh and fits on most diets. If you want to add some protein and make it a meal you can add some left-over roasted chicken slices or even prawns or shrimp to it.

JUNE GARDEN PLANTING TIPS: It’s not too late to consider planting an heirloom tomato of your choice and some basil in your garden this month. You can provide yourself months of this delicious restaurant quality dish this whole summer! If you made this recipe, please share a picture with us at @thesuburbankitchen or #the_ suburban_kitchen This recipe and video are available on my YouTube Channel at The Suburban Kitchen.

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