🍅🥗 Caprese Salad Guide🇮🇹✨

For those of you who love fresh and simple flavors, I'd like to introduce you to a classic Italian salad : Caprese Salad ! 👏

This salad originates from the southern Italian island of Capri, hence the name Caprese. It's known for its simple, fresh ingredients: ripe tomatoes 🍅, buffalo mozzarella 🧀, fresh basil 🌿, and a drizzle of olive oil 🫒 for a perfect flavor.

The greatest charm of Caprese salad is that "the simpler it is, the more effort it requires": the ingredients must be fresh and the proportions must be just right, so that you can taste what Italians call the "original flavor of the ingredients." 😋

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🛒 Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

• 2-3 ripe tomatoes (or 200g cherry tomatoes)🍅
• 200g fresh buffalo mozzarella 🧀 (sliced ​​or torn into small pieces)
• A small handful of basil leaves 🌿
• 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil🫒
• 1-2 teaspoons of Italian balsamic vinegar (optional, to enhance the acidity)
• A pinch of salt
• Black pepper 🌑 to taste

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👩🍳 Detailed cooking process

1. Prepare tomatoes

• If using large tomatoes, cut into slices about 0.5–1 cm thick.
• Cherry tomatoes can be halved to keep them cute and easy to eat.

2. Prepare cheese

• Slice the mozzarella buffalo cheese to about the same thickness as the tomatoes. This way of assembling the slices will create the best effect.
• If the mozzarella balls are small, you can cut them in half or tear them apart.

3. Combination salad

• Arrange on a large plate: a tomato slice ➡️ a cheese slice ➡️ a basil leaf, repeat until the plate is full.
• If you use cherry tomatoes, mix the cheese cubes and basil leaves with the tomatoes to make a bowl style dish.

4. Seasoning

• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with a little salt and black pepper.
• If you want a richer flavor, you can add a few drops of balsamic vinegar (but the authentic tradition is olive oil + salt + black pepper).

5. Complete the dish

• Finally, add a few fresh basil leaves for garnish 🌿, and a delicious Caprese salad is ready!

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💡 Editor's Tips & Variations

• Tomato selection : The riper and sweeter the tomato, the better. Choose Beef Tomato or Heirloom Tomato, both have a more prominent flavor.
• Cheese choice : Buffalo Mozzarella (Mozzarella di Bufala) is the most authentic, but regular Mozzarella will also work.
• Deluxe version : You can add Parma ham 🥓 or Italian balsamic vinegar paste for a richer taste.
• Healthy version : Use less cheese and add more tomatoes and basil, and the calories will drop significantly.
• Hong Kong Fusion : Some people add a little honey 🍯 or pomelo sauce to make the taste more refreshing.
• Kids love it : Made with cherry tomatoes and fine-grained cheese balls, it's colorful and easy to eat.

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🎉 Summary

Caprese salad is truly a masterpiece that is simple to the extreme yet extremely delicious . 🥗
The red, white, and green colors resemble the Italian flag 🇮🇹, and the appearance is stunning. The sour and refreshing taste, smooth cheese, and fragrant basil make the flavors of the entire summer explode in your mouth.

My favorite thing about this salad is that it doesn't require any cooking. 🔥 It's ready in minutes. Whether it's an appetizer, a light snack, or a side dish for a BBQ or party, it's a surefire way to make it. 💯