It’s simple and it’s delicious. Use the best olive oil you can find, freshly cracked sea salt and good quality pepper, and a really fresh, ripe, juicy tomato. You know where to get the basil.
2 big fresh summer tomatoes* $1.00
1 tablespoon freshly cracked pepper $0.10^
1 tablespoon sea salt $free(ish)
4 ounces fresh mozzarella $1.32
8 leaves fresh basil $free (from your herb garden!)
2 tablespoons good olive oil $0.40**
Total cost: $2.82 for two great salads!
Slice the tomatoes in thick slices, approximately 1/2 inch. Cut the mozzarella into slightly thinner, but still thick slices. Arrange these alternatively and artistically on a salad plate. Crack the salt and pepper over the cheese and tomatoes. Arrange the basil leaves. Drizzle with the olive oil just before serving and ENJOY!
*Don’t limit yourself with just regular tomatoes. We love heirloom tomatoes – they’re so ugly, they’re pretty, and the taste is phenomenal. Ina Garten suggests the following for a caprese salad: “big, thick slices of good red summer tomatoes plus chunky wedges of green zebra tomatoes and halved small yellow pear tomatoes.”
^Play around with different kinds of pepper too. We love Penzey’s spices, where we’ve found some great different peppercorns with distinct flavors.
**The price here can really vary based on your definition of good and how much you’re willing to pay. If you’re shopping at Dean and Deluca, 2 tablespoons may be much more expensive. Since you’re on 2frugalfoodies, we would suggest TJ Maxx. Everyday selections on Olive Oil are pretty good, but occasionally you’ll find something GREAT!
