Tuscan tomato mozzarella stack (Printable)

Layers of ripe tomato, mozzarella, and basil drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze for a fresh starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 4 medium ripe tomatoes
02 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves

→ Dairy

03 - 9 oz fresh mozzarella cheese

→ Pantry

04 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 2 tbsp balsamic glaze
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
07 - Sea salt, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cut tomatoes and mozzarella into eight uniform 0.4-inch-thick slices each.
02 - Rinse basil leaves thoroughly and pat dry with a paper towel.
03 - On a serving platter, layer a tomato slice, a mozzarella slice, and a basil leaf. Repeat to form stacks three to four layers high, finishing with a basil leaf.
04 - Insert a long toothpick or bamboo skewer vertically through each stack to hold the layers firmly together.
05 - Drizzle olive oil and balsamic glaze evenly over each pillar. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Present immediately as a vibrant and refreshing appetizer.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-worthy but takes less time than scrolling through your phone, and nobody needs to know it was this easy.
  • You're basically just stacking three ingredients in a way that makes everyone think you've been to culinary school.
  • Fresh mozzarella and ripe tomatoes taste better together than they ever do apart, and this arrangement proves it.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients collapse into a sad puddle, so keep your tomatoes and mozzarella cold until the last minute—chill the platter too if you're working slowly.
  • Wet basil bruises and turns black; dry it completely after rinsing, and tear it only with your hands, never a knife.
03 -
  • Cold mozzarella and cold tomatoes are non-negotiable; they hold their shape and taste bright instead of warm and collapsed.
  • Assemble these right before serving—they'll keep for 30 minutes, but after that, the tomato releases water and everything slides apart like a broken dream.
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