Fruit caprese is a delight
Most of us are familiar with the celebrated tomato, basil and mozzarella salad named caprese. Some people think this salad was created as a symbol of the Italian flag, because the red, green and white components are artfully layered on the plate. I’ve made many versions of this Italian classic when tomatoes and basil are at their best.
Recently, I happened upon this clever take on the tomato salad by Mollie Katzen. She is an awardwinning cookbook author and artist who wrote “Moosewood Cookbook,” among many others. If you are not familiar with her, check out her body of work at www.molliekatzen.com. She posted the photograph you see here that thrilled me with its smart reinterpretation using summer fruits instead of tomatoes. It is a stunning and colorful plate that will probably entice the pickiest eater in your family.
There isn’t a recipe, per se, but more of an idea. The ingredient amounts depend on the number and appetites of the eaters. You can make this for breakfast, brunch or lunch. It’s very quick; the only thing you need to do ahead of time is make sure to first heat a grill pan (for the bread) over low or medium-low heat.
Then brush thick slices of whatever artisan bread you have on hand with olive oil. The bread goes on the preheated pan while you assemble the caprese. Keep an eye on the bread; turn over to grill the second side when the first is slightly crusty and golden.
Serve the bread slices on the side — cut into large croutes, if desired — and mop as you go. You can add a handful of toasted walnuts to the bread plate if you want. This loose recipe/idea requires simply layering the ingredients on a large platter or on individual plates; separate plates might be a good idea due to the pandemic.