Ina, Ina, Ina !!! Now she’s a true rock star! Seriously, you need to cook something, for some reason, with a recipe you’ve never tried? Who ya gonna call…Ina Garten. Oh yea. You know it’s going to come out great even without a dress rehearsal. Cuz we’re taking Ina. That’s why she’s a rock star. If I ever met her I think I’d quake in my boots or whatever footwear I happen to be donning.
I love Caprese salad. I mean LOVE it. Before I moved to Socal I had a garden devoted to serious tomato growing and the primary purpose of growing them was for this salad. Now I lived in an almost gardenless Socal home and I long for my favorite salad fix. Not only do I not have my incredible garden bounty, it’s winter right now. Tomatoes, in general, have virtually no flavor. Who ya gonna call………Ina Garten. That’s right with the wave of her “Ina” and she has created a winter style Caprese Salad that not only rivals the fabulous original but improves on it in many ways. This is now my Must Have salad for any time that vine ripe, perfect tomatoes, aren’t available. I hope you try it and enjoy!
More Appetizer Recipes…
Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 12 Plum Tomatoes Halved Lengthwise,Seeded and Cored
- 1/4 Cup Plus More for Drizzling Good Quality Olive Oil
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 4 Garlic Cloves Minced
- 2 Teaspoons Sugar
- To Taste Salt
- To Taste Black Pepper
- 16 Ounces Fresh Mozzarella Salted
- 12 Fresh Basil Leaves Julienned
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
- Arrange tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut side up, in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Sprinkle with garlic, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 2 hours until the tomatoes are concentrated and begin to caramelize. Allow tomatoes to cool to room temperature.
- Cut the mozzarella into slices slightly less than 1/2 inch thick. If the slices of mozzarella are larger than the tomatoes, cut them in half so they are approximately the same size. Layer the tomatoes alternately with the mozzarella on a platter and scatter the basil on top. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil ( I didn't do this cuz I didn't want the extra calories and it was still fabulous ). Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition
Source: Ina Garten
Roasted Tomato are very delicious and i love to have it…http://www.vivamagonline.com/index.php This is the most yummy picture… I like the way you presented the tomato's..
Oh boy. This is GORGEOUS! I'm making it!
I've made these roasted tomatoes twice now! I am in love with them. I'm so glad you posted this!
Perfect! It seems the more snow and cold weather we get, the more I crave Caprese salad. This looks like it will be perfect for a wintery day!
Mmmm, this looks fantastic! Great idea for winter tomatoes – I so often end up using them “as is” but then being disappointed! I will have to try roasting them instead…looks like a much better option! YUM!!
That looks so good! Now I am wishing that fresh ripe field tomatoes were in season.
This looks so good! How do you get such amazing photos??
This is the most appetising photo I have seen in ages! It's my favourite salad too. And my favourite pizza topping! What a great way to get extra flavour into out of season tomatoes.
Kathleen, let me sing your praises. This is a fabulous find and share! LUV roasted tomatoes. What a beautiful and tasteful way to showcase their luxuriant flavor!
I can see how this would definitely be a winner. Roasting just makes tomatoes tasate sweeter when not in season. I saw tghis for a Greek salad too…I think we are on a roll!!!!
Hi Kathleen, just me again. 🙂
Since you're such a big Ina fan, why don't you look into Barefoot Bloggers? Each week bloggers try one of Ina's recipes and then blog about it. I tried it for 6 or 7 months but then stopped because of the move and the baby last year. I really enjoyed it, though. Thought you might too. Here is the link:
http://barefootbloggers.wordpress.com/
I love the whole sound of a roasted caprese salad. I love the flavor of roasted tomatoes – so rich and zesty. This looks just grand.
WOW…visiting your blog is like opening a door to summer!
No one does it better then our Ina…this salad lookd amazing and I have heard that by roasted tomatoes this time of year it brings back their flavor…I will have to try this as we love tomatoes and mozzeralla….Her show today was great…she made this wonderful looking French toasted sandwich things served up with a little salad…I Love Ina!!!
that tomato caprese looks amazing. one of my favs. i just might attempt that. oh, who am i kidding? i stink in the kitchen. thanks for stopping by my blog. i think you are right about the crock-pot and i think i will take the plunge. take care.
This makes me miss my grill… I have a grilling recipe similar to this, topped with grilled peppers…
Ah, summer memories, when there is 10 inches of snow and 5 degrees cold outside
sigh
Hello beautiful Kathleen! I saw this recipe on your blog this morning and in the afternoon I went out and bought the ingredients! I'm dying to try it within the next day or two. I love Ina's recipes. I haven't had any fail on me yet. 🙂
i'm with you! love the caprese combo, i make it whenever i can. i've never done it this way though, but i will! fantastic!
perfect way to use up those nasty winter tomatoes from the supermarket. will have to try. thanks for sharing!
allison
@
http://lastbite.blogspot.com
DAMN gorgeous!! WOW love the presentation and I know that taste matches! I am a huge Ina fan love all her books and her anything she makes is amazing! She would be impressed by this one for sure!
That is one gorgeous dish! gorgeous…the colors and the flavors!! OMG
Ina Garten is also my favorite!! She's so awesome! This year, I want to try more of her recipes. Your salad looks so delicious!
Love it! Ina is my fave too, my son and I lined up for 5+ hours a couple of years ago to meet her at a book signing. She is so beautiful.
Great recipe!
I wasn't a huge caprese salad lover until my trip to Italy and now I'm a convert and need to try this version!
Ooooh! I love caprese salad too! I've never tried it with roasted tomatoes. It sounds absolutely wonderful!
OMG!! This is absolutely my favorite type of salad.. I am so trying this soon, it looks absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!!
Oh beautiful! I love caprese…and roasting is the perfect cure for winter tomatoes 🙂
Kathleen – This looks so good! What a great idea to roast the tomatoes!
I love Caprese. LOVE IT. And it looks super good with the roasted tomatoes, too!
Boy that looks good. I can't wait until it's summer here in Salt Lake City and I have a ton of garden tomatoes and basil to use!
This is absoulutely gorgeous and no doubt delicious. I roast otherwise bland winter tomatoes…works every time.
yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ina is my rock star too! Your caprese looks delicious!