Heart Caprese Salad Balsamic (Printable Version)
Romantic Caprese with heart-cut mozzarella and tomatoes, finished with a sweet tangy balsamic glaze.
# What You'll Need:
→ Balsamic Glaze
01 - 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
02 - 1 tbsp honey
→ Produce
03 - 4 medium ripe tomatoes
04 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves
→ Dairy
05 - 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
→ Pantry
06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# Method:
01 - Combine balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half and syrupy consistency forms, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
02 - Cut tomatoes and mozzarella into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Press a heart-shaped cookie cutter firmly through each slice to create uniform heart shapes.
03 - Arrange heart-shaped tomato and mozzarella slices on a serving platter, alternating and overlapping slightly. Tuck fresh basil leaves between the layered slices for presentation.
04 - Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil evenly over the arranged ingredients. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
05 - Drizzle the cooled balsamic glaze artistically over the entire salad. Serve immediately while fresh and at optimal temperature.
# Chef's Tips:
01 -
- The balsamic reduction adds this luxurious sweetness that makes people think you labored for hours when it really took five minutes
- Heart shapes transform dinner into an occasion without requiring any actual cooking skills
02 -
- The balsamic glaze thickens considerably as it cools so remove it from heat while it still seems slightly too thin
- Room temperature ingredients absorb flavors better so let everything sit out for about 20 minutes before assembling
03 -
- Pat your tomato slices dry with paper towels before cutting to prevent your hearts from becoming watery and sad
- The glaze should drizzle slowly like honey if it's too thin it disappears into the cheese and tomatoes