Reimagining the classic strawberry caprese salad recipe

Caprese salad, also known as Insalata Caprese, is one of the most famous dishes of Italian cuisine. Its colours match those of the Italian flag. Preparing it takes just a moment, and it always tastes like it's from a restaurant. On hot days, you can eat it as early as breakfast because it is filling.

It is known that the salad originates from Italy. However, in this case, the specific place is also known. It comes from the picturesque island of Capri, from which it takes its name. Its recipe was created in the 1920s in honour of the King of Italy. Its base is always slices of tomato, mozzarella, and basil leaves. The whole thing must be drizzled with olive oil and mixed with balsamic vinegar, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Recently, new versions of this salad have appeared.

What if the red ingredient was replaced with something also red? Yes, we're talking about strawberries. We often eat them during the season. However, it's usually in dessert versions, cakes, pancakes, and desserts, which are generally sweet. But these fruits also have great potential in savoury dishes. They pair perfectly with mozzarella cheese and basil. According to Kantar research, strawberries were the favourite fruit of Poles in 2019, and this probably hasn't changed much since then. It's worth trying to eat them not only in their sweet versions. The transformed Caprese salad is an excellent way to discover their taste in a savoury version.

Ingredients:

                      
• 375 mL of strawberries
• 140 grams of mozzarella (you can use buffalo mozzarella)
• basil leaves to taste
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation method:

              
1. Slice the mozzarella and strawberries.
2. Arrange them on a platter, interspersing them with basil leaves.
3. Mix the olive oil with the balsamic vinegar and drizzle over the salad.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.