Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad

Tomato, basil, and mozzarella is a classic flavor combination for good reason. When you're hungry for something simply delicious, make this Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad. It's gonna be awesome.

From the age when I gained enough self-awareness to realize that I wasn't good at visual art, I began to dread art class. Even as a young child, I got bored with coloring quickly and always preferred more active imaginative play and dancing to sitting down to draw a picture. Once I moved out of elementary school, I avoided art classes completely, and I'm perfectly happy with that choice.

But as a kitchen witch, I get to work with color and form in a different way that does actually bring me some joy. I'm far from a food stylist, but I do love observing the way dishes can be truly beautiful. With vibrant colors, complimentary combinations, and a variety of line and texture that makes each plate a natural work of art, it's given me a chance to tap into a different form of creativity.

What makes this Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad so awesome?

This Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad is a twist on an Italian classic. We're roasting tiny tomatoes to concentrate their flavor and pairing them with creamy fresh mozzarella and a fresh basil viniagrette. This dish is ideal when tomatoes aren't quite at their peak because the roasting removes a lot of the water that dillutes the flavor and gives you pure tomato essence.

You can serve this with a loaf of crusty bread. Plate it up individually or let everybody dig in to the same plate like it's a dip. Keep it rustic and let the colors and flavors blend together naturally. Use the bread to soak up every last drop of flavor. It's so simple yet so awesome.

Magical Properties of Tomatoes

Full of seeds, tomatoes are often used in money and prosperity spells. Botanically, tomato is technically a berry, so it's ruled by the planet Venus and the element of water. It's also great in spells to attract love, especially when paired with garlic in the kitchen. It's hairy, irritating vines can also help you call in protection. (Source: Moon Magic Mixology by Julia Halina Hadas)

For more on the magical propeties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this dish. The full details are in the recipe card below.

• Tomatoes - whatever small tomatoes, cherry or grape or baby, you can find that look delicious to you. Also be flexible with the amount based on what's available in your store.
• Dried oregano
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil - or your preferred cooking oil
• Fresh mozzarella - The kind that's store in water
• Fresh basil
• Red wine vinegar - Or whatever vinegar you have on hand

Tips for making Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad

This dish is super simple. Cut all your tomatoes in half and place them cut side up in a baking dish. Keep them in a single layer. Sprinkle with dried oregano, salt, and pepper, then drizzle with oil and roast in a hot oven until they're soft.

In the meantime, add your fresh basil, olive oil, and vinegar to a blender and whiz them up until blended. You can make this as smooth or chunky as you like. You can also just tear your mozzarella into chunks to be scatted over the tomatoes once they're out of the oven.

This can be served hot but is also awesome at room temp or even cold. So feel free to make it ahead if you need. Serve with some nice bread for crunch and to get every drop of flavor in your face.

Bring together classic flavors and colors to make something truly awesome. You're gonna want this Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad all the time.

Looking for more awesome salad recipes? Try this Fiery Halloumi Salad or a tasty Bacon and Egg Salad.

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Recipe slightly adapted from Nigellissima by Nigella Lawson.

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