This simple dish can be presented artfully. Fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and Roma tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sprinkled with Italian seasonings and fresh herbs like parsley or more basil.

Here are the simple directions:

Start with really fresh mozzarella cheese. Cut it into thin slices. Cheese can be very expensive, so to save money, you could cut the slices in half, the dish will still look amazing. Then wash and dry the tomatoes and using a clean knife, thinly slice them. Wash and dry the basil, but be very gentle because basil will bruise easily. Tear off the leaves and set them aside on a clean dishtowel or paper towel to dry.

Layer the mozzarella and tomatoes and then the basil sandwiched in between onto a small platter. If I use a circular dish I will layer them in a circle and fill the center with a smaller circle of caprese salad or maybe add sliced bread or sliced polenta layered with more cheese as seen in this photo. If uses a rectangular dish create 2 rows.

Once everything is layered, add a drizzle of balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil, and add crushed Italian seasoning as well, to add more flavor. I prefer to use a mortar and pestle to crush the dry herbs, it will wake up the flavor. Adding some fresh herbs is always a nice touch.

This is a great appetizer for a party, it’s very colorful and the rich deep colors pop against any tray especially white. It’s so easy to make and can be assembled a few minutes before guests arrive. If you need to assemble in advance, then omit the balsamic vinegar and oil until the very last moment when guests arrive. This dish is delish!