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Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

The Italian name for this salad is insalata caprese, and it’s a shining example of the brilliance of Italian cuisine: a few fresh, simple ingredients at the peak of their season combined to produce exceptionally complex flavors. It hails from Capri, a small island off the coast of Naples in the region of Campagna, where my family comes from. Buy only the best mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and olive oil you can find to make this salad. It may be naturally fresh and healthful, but I have kept fat and calories to a minimum by keeping the olive oil to a minimum—only 1 tablespoon for 4 servings.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

2 large red heirloom tomatoes, cut into large dice
1 small red onion, sliced thin
6 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into large dice
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes, onion, mozzarella, vinegar, olive oil, and basil. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator until serving time.

  2. nutrition information

    Step 2

    Fat: 42g (before), 13.1g (after)

    Step 3

    Calories: 450 (before), 184 (after)

    Step 4

    Protein: 10g

    Step 5

    Carbohydrates: 6g

    Step 6

    Cholesterol: 34mg

    Step 7

    Fiber: 1g

    Step 8

    Sodium: 417mg

Now Eat This by Rocco DiSpirito. Copyright © 2010 by Rocco DiSpirito. Published by Random House Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Hailed as the "Leading Chef of his Generation" by Gourmet magazine, Rocco DiSpirito received the James Beard Award for his first cookbook, Flavor. He went on to author Rocco's Italian-American (2004), Rocco's Five Minute Flavor (2005), Rocco's Real-Life Recipes (2007), and Rocco Gets Real (2009). DiSpirito also starred in the Food Network series Melting Pot, the NBC hit reality series The Restaurant, and the A&E series Rocco Gets Real.
TagsSaladItalianEuropeanTomatoVegetableRed OnionOnionRoot VegetableMozzarellaCheeseDairyBasilHerbs & SpicesSideBrunchLunchDinnerGluten FreeNut FreeVegetarianKetoQuickEasy30 Minutes or LessWeeknight MealsNo-CookSummerCookbooks
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