Description
A delicious Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad featuring caramelized cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves, drizzled with olive oil and flavorful roasting juices. Perfect as an appetizer or side dish, this easy-to-make recipe balances sweet roasted tomatoes with creamy cheese and aromatic herbs for a classic Italian flavor.
Ingredients
Tomatoes and Seasoning
- 500 g (18 oz) cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, gently crushed but left whole
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp white granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp sea salt flakes, plus extra for serving
Salad Toppings
- 170 g (6 oz) fresh mozzarella ball, torn into pieces
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, smaller leaves or torn larger ones
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (355°F) to prepare for roasting the tomatoes.
- Prepare Tomatoes: Wash and thoroughly dry the tomatoes. Cut larger tomatoes in half. For smaller cherry or grape tomatoes, keep them whole but pierce each with a knife to prevent bursting during roasting.
- Mix Tomatoes and Seasoning: In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes with the crushed garlic cloves, olive oil, sugar, dried oregano, and sea salt. Toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Roast Tomatoes: Transfer the tomato mixture to a non-reactive baking dish and place it in the preheated oven. Roast for 30-40 minutes until the tomatoes begin to caramelize and soften. Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool.
- Assemble Salad: Once cooled, remove the garlic cloves from the roasted tomatoes. Arrange the tomatoes on a serving platter and scatter torn mozzarella pieces and fresh basil leaves on top. Pour the roasting juices from the baking dish over the salad for rich flavor.
- Season and Serve: Just before serving, sprinkle additional sea salt flakes over the salad. Serve this flavorful roasted Caprese salad with crusty bread to soak up the delicious juices. Optionally, drizzle with balsamic glaze for extra taste.
Notes
- Use sea salt flakes for better texture and flavor when seasoning after roasting.
- Using a non-reactive baking dish like glass or ceramic helps avoid metallic tastes during roasting.
- This salad can be served warm or at room temperature depending on preference.
- Balsamic glaze adds a sweet and tangy dimension if desired.