Christmas Candy Cane Caprese (Printable)

Festive striped arrangement of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil shaped like a candy cane for holiday gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced into rounds
02 - 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced into rounds
03 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves

→ Garnish & Dressing

04 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
07 - Coarse sea salt, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices alternately on a large serving platter in the shape of a candy cane, overlapping each slightly to create a striped pattern.
02 - Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella slices for color and flavor.
03 - Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the salad, then add the balsamic glaze in a fine zigzag pattern or serve it on the side.
04 - Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and coarse sea salt to taste. Serve immediately for best freshness and visual impact.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Takes fifteen minutes but looks like you hired a caterer
  • No cooking required, just assembly and a bit of artistic arranging
  • The classic Caprese flavors everyone loves, dressed up for the holidays
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients make a huge difference here, take your mozzarella and tomatoes out of the fridge about an hour before assembling
  • The candy cane shape works best on a rectangular or oval platter, round ones make the curved hook look wonky
  • If your tomatoes are especially juicy, pat the slices gently with paper towels before arranging to prevent your candy cane from swimming in liquid
03 -
  • Use a serrated knife for the cleanest tomato slices, a sharp chef's knife tends to squish them more often than not
  • If your mozzarella is too soft to slice cleanly, pop it in the freezer for ten minutes before cutting

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