Christmas Candy Cane Caprese (Printer-friendly)
Festive candy cane shaped salad with mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil. Perfect holiday appetizer ready in 15 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced into rounds
02 - 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced into rounds
03 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves
→ Garnish & Dressing
04 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
07 - Coarse sea salt, to taste
# How-To Guide:
01 - Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices alternately on a large serving platter in the shape of a candy cane, overlapping each slightly to create a striped pattern.
02 - Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella slices for color and flavor.
03 - Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the salad, then add the balsamic glaze in a fine zigzag pattern or serve it on the side.
04 - Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and coarse sea salt to taste. Serve immediately for best freshness and visual impact.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The striking candy cane pattern makes everyone grab their phones before they even grab a fork
- Takes fifteen minutes flat but looks like you spent hours planning it
02 -
- The candy cane shape works best on a rectangular or oval platter rather than round ones
- Assembly happens right before serving because the salt draws out moisture if it sits too long
03 -
- A serrated knife gives you the cleanest slices through both tomatoes and mozzarella
- If your balsamic glaze is too thick, warm it for ten seconds in the microwave