This salad is a classic Italian dish which is simple to make and full of flavour. It is the perfect dish to serve as a starter or a side salad.
Ingredients
- 250g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 ball of mozzarella, torn into pieces
- 1 handful of fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. In a roasting tin or baking dish, mix together the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil leaves, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
3. Season with salt and pepper and toss everything together so that it is evenly mixed.
4. Place in the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the tomatoes are softened.
5. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Potential changes & improvements
If you want to add a bit more of a kick to this dish, you could try adding some chilli flakes or a pinch of dried oregano. For a vegetarian version, you could swap the mozzarella for a vegan cheese.
What other food it works well with
This salad goes well with crusty bread, roasted vegetables or grilled chicken or fish.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake people make when making this dish is to use too much olive oil. This will make the salad greasy and overpower the other flavours, so be sure to use a light hand when adding the oil.
Nutritional Information
This salad is a good source of protein, vitamins A and C, and is low in fat and calories.
Allergens
This recipe contains dairy and gluten.