Roasted Tomato and Mozzarella Salad With Balsamic Reduction

JanuaryBride's Note:

A divine dinner starter that's fancy enough for guests (it's even one you can make ahead). I thought this one up last night, tried it today and it worked well. It is a stacked caprese salad with a twist.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 2

Yield: 2.0 salads

• 1 large tomato
• 1 fresh mozzarella ball (same size as tomato)
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian spices
• olive oil
• sea salt
• fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh basil
• 2 sprigs fresh basil, for garnsh

Directions:

1. Preheat broiler to high.
2. Slice your tomato into 6 even slices. Place on a cookie sheet (or roll pan). Drizzle tomatoes with small amount of olive oil and lightly dust with Italian spices, salt and pepper.
3. Broil tomatoes for 3-5 minutes (until they are just slightly softened), set aside to cool to room temperature.
4. Bring vinegar to a boil, then decrease heat to medium and simmer for 5-10 minutes until reduced by half. The thickness of the reduced sauce depends on the quality of your balsamic vinegar. Place vinegar in the fridge to cool for 15 minutes.
5. Slice your cheese in similar size slices as the tomatoes.
6. On each plate, stack 3 tomatoes and 3 slices of cheese (alternating one on top of each other). Drizzle balsamic reduction over and around the stacked salad, sprinkle plate (not the salad) with chopped basil and then place one sprig of basil on top of the stacked salad as a garnish.

Reviews

[Charmie777]

Very good. I loved the reduction, but I think I'd prefer the tomatoes not broiled.

[Vicki in CT]

Really nice summer salad. I love the regular variety of this salad so was interested in trying a new version. The reduction was wonderful and the broiled tomatoes added an interesting twist. This could be a great way to use up those tomatoes that are just past their prime.