This is an update of a salad I used to enjoy at one of favourite Italian restaurants in Yorkville. Unfortunately, they took it off the menu so I had to remake it at home.
They roasted the tomato slices in their wood-fired pizza ovens because Toronto tomatoes are brutal, particularly in the winter. I don’t have a wood-fired pizza oven, so I air-fried them with my Instant Pot Air-Fryer lid. You don’t want the tomatoes completely dehydrated, just enough to condense the flavour so it actually tastes like a tomato. Top the slices with a fresh mozzarella or better yet, a burrata and dollop homemade pesto mixed with a little prosecco vinegar and sprinkle some toasted Italian (or Spanish, as I had) pinenuts over the dish. Presto, you have a memorable appetizer.
Fresh Mozzarella Salad
Serves 2-4
Ingredients:
- 4-6 tomatoes, sliced in half, deseeded and air-fried
- 1 Fresh Mozzarella or Burrata
- 60 mL Pesto
- 30 mL Prosecco vinegar
- 15 g pinenuts, toasted
- 1 lemon, zested
- Fresh basil leaves
Directions:
- With everything at room temperature, lay the dehydrated/roasted tomatoes on the plate(s) and add the sliced mozzarella on top.
- Combine the pesto with prosecco vinegar and drizzle on top of the tomatoes and mozzarella. Sprinkle the lemon zest on top and garnish with the toasted pinenut and torn fresh basil leaves.
What a great idea to airfry the tomatoes for more intense flavor. A caprese on steroids!
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Thank you for sharing this recipe! I can’t wait to try it out and enjoy a taste of Italy in my own home. The combination of juicy roasted tomatoes with creamy fresh mozzarella or burrata sounds like a match made in heaven.
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Enhancing the flavor of store-bought tomatoes during certain periods of the year is a must to bring out the taste. Your salad sounds amazing.
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The combination of tomatoes, mozzarella / burrata, and basil is already great, but you’ve elevated it even more by roasting tomatoes and adding pesto and pine nuts. And I’m totally intrigued by this Prosecco vinegar – need to get my hands on some 🙂
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I’ve used a similar method for our tomatoes here. Serving at room temperature is vital, especially for the mozzarella (otherwise no flavor).
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Interesting idea what you did with the tomatoes. It’s a great salad.
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I love all versions of tomato and mozzarella salads! Air frying the tomatoes sounds like a delicious twist.
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A great idea to airfried the tomatoes…the salad looks great.
angiesrecipes
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