This incredibly flavorful salad can be prepared in minutes, making it the perfect lunch side or last-minute addition to dinner. The tomatoes need to be fully ripe and in season, garden or farmer's market fresh. Good-quality olive oil and fresh basil is also necessary. Use different types and color of basil (like Genovese or Red Basil) and different varietals of heirloom tomato to create an attractive and impressive- looking salad for dinner parties or events.
Ingredients:
2-4 ripe heirloom tomatoes
Good-quality extra virgin olive oil to taste
Fresh mozzarella to taste
1 bunch of fresh basil
Black pepper to taste
Slice tomatoes and arrange on platter. Drizzle with a bit of oil. Grind on black pepper and (if cheese is unsalted) salt to taste. Slice mozzarella thinly in pieces that will cover about half of each tomato slice. Arrange on tomatoes, drizzle with a bit more oil, and sprinkle basil on top. Any combination of heirlooms will do, but the red basil looks especially good on orange brandywine and green zebra. I don’t know of anything else I can prepare in so little time that tastes so good, but don’t bother if you don’t have fully vine-ripened tomatoes, good-quality olive oil, and fresh basil.
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