A whimsical summer dish featuring ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil artfully arranged in a starfish shape.
# What You Need:
→ Produce
01 - 3 large ripe tomatoes
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes (mixed colors, optional)
03 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves
→ Cheese
04 - 9 ounces fresh mozzarella (bocconcini or ciliegine preferred)
→ Condiments
05 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
→ Seasonings
07 - Sea salt, to taste
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Cut the large tomatoes into ¼-inch thick rounds.
02 - Arrange the tomato slices on a large serving platter in the shape of a starfish.
03 - Halve the cherry tomatoes and scatter evenly over the tomato base for color and texture.
04 - Drain the mozzarella; slice if using larger balls, or leave bocconcini/ciliegine whole. Nestle the pieces among the tomato slices to emphasize the starfish design.
05 - Distribute fresh basil leaves evenly between the tomato and mozzarella pieces for flavor and visual appeal.
06 - Drizzle extra virgin olive oil uniformly over the assembled salad, then add the balsamic glaze.
07 - Sprinkle sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
08 - Serve immediately; optionally garnish with additional basil or edible flowers.
