Ode to the Insalata Caprese

I thought it fitting for my inaugural post to ask myself what would be the one meal I would be happy to eat every day if stranded on a deserted island. That meal for me would be Insalata Caprese--a lovely sensory collaboration of flavors, textures, colors and fragrances that capture Mediterranean sunshine on a plate.

Depending on where you go, the plating and presentation may vary...but the core ingredients never change: sweet, sun ripened tomatoes, luxurious fresh buffalo mozzarella and aromatic basil leaves--drizzled with just the right amount of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and, of course, sea salt.

One of my fave ways to re-interpret this iconic salad dish is to use extra-sweet Campari tomatoes and build mini-Napoleons, tucking in the whole basil leaves as shown in the picture below. The result are bite-sized proportions that translate into manageable, elegant little cocktail party appetizers. For a more filling meal, I turn my Caprese into a sandwich--nestling the cheese, tomato and basil between between slices of a warm baguette loaf and drizzling the olive oil and balsamic right onto the crusty bread.

And let's not forget the healthy points a Caprese scores from a nutritional standpoint, especially if made with organic-grade components. Loaded with antioxidants, "good" cholesterol, and low-calorie protein, this may very well be The Perfect Meal.