Valentine Heart Caprese Salad (Print version)

Juicy tomato and mozzarella hearts paired with basil and balsamic for a romantic dish.

# What you'll need:

→ Main Components

01 - 2 medium ripe tomatoes
02 - 5 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
03 - 10 fresh basil leaves

→ Dressing

04 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
05 - 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
06 - Sea salt, to taste
07 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to make it:

01 - Cut tomatoes and mozzarella into ½-inch thick rounds using a sharp knife for clean edges.
02 - Press heart-shaped cookie cutter firmly through each slice to create uniform hearts from both tomatoes and cheese.
03 - Arrange tomato and mozzarella hearts in alternating pattern on serving platter for visual appeal.
04 - Tuck basil leaves between heart shapes evenly across the platter.
05 - Drizzle olive oil and balsamic glaze in thin streams over entire salad, then season with salt and pepper.
06 - Present right after dressing for optimal texture and freshness.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • The heart shapes make everyone smile even if you are just cooking for yourself on a Tuesday
  • It takes barely 20 minutes but looks like something from a restaurant window display
  • You can eat it with your hands which makes everything feel more intimate and relaxed
02 -
  • Work quickly once you start cutting because the mozzarella will start to sweat and lose those clean edges you worked so hard to create
  • If your hearts keep tearing, chill the mozzarella in the freezer for 10 minutes because cold cheese cuts cleaner than room temperature
  • The uneven scraps from cutting still taste incredible so save them for yourself while you plate the pretty hearts
03 -
  • Buy extra tomatoes because some will be too soft to cut into clean hearts and you want enough to pick the best ones
  • Let the mozzarella come to room temperature before you start cutting because cold cheese can crumble instead of slice smoothly

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