Ingredients:
- 2 cups balsamic vinegar
- 3 ripe tomatoes
- 18 ounces fresh mozzarella balls
- Large bunch fresh basil leaves
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- Large pinch kosher salt
- Large pinch freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
- Measure the balsamic vinegar and pour into a saucepan. Bring it to a gentle boil over a low heat. Cook it until the balsamic vinegar has reduced to a nice thick glaze (but still pourable), about 15 minutes. Allow the reduction to cool to room temperature before you serve it.
- When you are ready to assemble the salad, cut the tomatoes into thick slices. Arrange them on a platter, alternating them with the mozzarella slices. Tuck the whole basil leaves in between the tomato and cheese slices. Drizzle on the gorgeous, almost black balsamic reduction. Then drizzle olive oil in a thin stream over the top. Finally, sprinkle on salt and pepper.
For a Halloween Twist: Make your mozzarella balls into minuture skulls or shrunken heads. Scoop two small round hollows for eye sockets, two even smaller slits beneath for nostrils, and a longer horizontal slit for the mouth below the nostrils. Server if you dare.
