WATERLOO, WI — As summer temperatures climb, what's more tempting than a fresh salad? And what salad is more appealing to the eye and to the taste buds than Caprese Salad? The sublimely fresh and colorful combination — fresh Mozzarella cheese, luscious tomatoes and aromatic basil — is just magical.
The classic Caprese Salad can be an inspiration for a number of creative dishes, says Debbie Casucci-Crave, of Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese. She and her husband, George, craft award-winning Fresh Mozzarella, using milk from the Holstein cows on the dairy farm operated by the Crave brothers.
Debbie loves foods that reflect her own family’s Italian heritage. And while she is a fan of the classic Caprese Salad, she also enjoys reinterpreting the familiar dish, either by plating the salad creatively, or by updating the recipe with less-traditional but equally delicious ingredients.
Debbie starts every Caprese Salad with Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics Fresh Mozzarella, a creamy white soft cheese that they make in a variety of sizes: Perline is a tiny, 2-gram ball, Ciliegine is a cherry-size ball, and Bocconcini is a small ball of about 1.5 ounces. Fresh Mozzarella styles that are good for slicing include Ovoline, an egg-sized ball of approximately 4 ounces, 8-ounce Balls; and 1-pound Logs. Offering the ultimate in sliced convenienceare medallions, pre-sliced portions of Fresh Mozzarella and Marinated Fresh Mozzarella, which is made with a custom blend of olive oil and spices.
It’s important to use only the freshest tomatoes and basil. Summer is the perfect time for this because perfectly ripe ingredients are widely available, from back-yard gardens, farmers markets and grocery stores. But once you’ve chosen the right cheese, basil and tomatoes, the sky is the limit for creative ideas, says Debbie.
Sliced Salad: For a rustic, bountiful salad, alternate hearty slices of Fresh Mozzarella with equally thick slices of plum tomatoes on a platter. For a more elegant approach, use thinner slices of cheese, alternated with thin slices of tomato on a delicate plate. Or create a composed Caprese Salad in the style of a Cobb salad, with each component arranged in a straight or diagonal line across the plate; either Medallions or Perline Fresh Mozzarella will work well. In any case, drizzle the salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and add fragrant basil, with the leaves whole, chopped, or torn into small pieces.
Skewered Salad: For this easy and fun dish, use Ciliegine or Bocconcini balls and alternate on a wooden skewer with cherry tomatoes and a folded basil leaf. The Fresh Mozzarella, tomatoes and basil can be left whole or cut in half. Serve the skewers as a colorful garnish with an entrée of grilled meat, fish or pasta. Or, showcase the skewers on a buffet: Artfully arrange them on a large platter, or put them in a vase, like colorful, edible flowers.
Bite-Size Treats: For Caprese Salad as finger food, cut the tops off cherry tomatoes and, with a melon baller or serrated grapefruit spoon, remove the seeds. Turn the tomatoes upside down to drain. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the tomatoes, to make a more stable base. Cut Fresh Mozzarella into cubes that fit inside the tomatoes, and stuff each tomato with a cheese cube. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper, and garnish with basil leaves. For more eye appeal, use cherry tomatoes in varied colors – red, orange, yellow and multi-colors.
Caprese Sandwich: Start with hearty Italian buns or bread. Sprinkle the bread with olive oil or balsamic vinegar, and add a smear of flavorful pesto. Then layer on slices of creamy Fresh Mozzarella and fresh tomatoes, and top with another drizzle of olive oil, a little salt and freshly ground pepper, and basil leaves. Serve open-faced or top with another slice of bread for a simply delicious Caprese Salad Sandwich.
Chopped or Tossed Salad: For a quick and colorful Caprese Salad variation, toss Fresh Mozzarella Perline, Ciliegine or Bocconcini balls or cubes of Fresh Mozzarella with tomatoes similar in size to the cheese. For maximum eye appeal, use heirloom cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes or tear-drop tomatoes. Sprinkle with basil leaves, and add extra texture and flavor with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a bit of honey, Italian seasoning, or pine nuts. Other add-ins can include rings of red onions, al dente pasta or even bite-size chunks torn off a loaf of hearty Italian bread.
Source: Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese