SERIOUSLY SIMPLE: A fresh take on caprese salad
Caprese salad is made for the summer season. This classic Italian dish alternates vibrant red tomato slices with creamy mozzarella and fragrant, bright green basil leaves. It kind of reminds you of the colors of the Italian flag.
You don't even need a recipe for this well-loved salad. Pick the freshest, ripest tomatoes as the star component. In addition to the tomato, mozzarella and basil, all you need for garnishing is some fruity olive oil and salt and pepper.
Sometimes I like to freshen up the idea and give it a new look. Years ago I enjoyed a tomato and watermelon salad in East Hampton, New York and thought it would be the basis of a good alternative to the classic caprese salad.
Beautiful on a buffet table, this variation s a welcome surprise. Here, large red, ripe tomatoes are sliced and overlapped on a platter. The refreshing and texturally pleasing watermelon, cucumber and feta relish is dolloped on top of each tomato. Make sure to have a couple of large spoons for ease in serving.
Summer Caprese Salad with Watermelon, Cucumber and Feta Relish
Serves 6 to 8
Relish:
1 1/2 cups 1/2-inch diced seedless yellow or red watermelon
1 1/2 cups 1/2-inch diced European cucumber
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
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