Tuscan Pillar Tomato Mozzarella (Printable Version)

Vertical stacks of tomato, mozzarella, and basil finished with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 4 medium ripe tomatoes
02 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves

→ Dairy

03 - 8.8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese

→ Pantry

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

# Directions:

01 - Cut tomatoes and mozzarella into eight uniform, approximately 0.4 inch thick slices each.
02 - Rinse basil leaves thoroughly and pat dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
03 - Place one tomato slice on the serving platter, top with a mozzarella slice, then a basil leaf. Repeat layering three to four times, finishing with a basil leaf on top.
04 - Insert a long toothpick or bamboo skewer vertically through the center of each stack to hold the layers firmly together.
05 - Drizzle each stack with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Present immediately to preserve freshness and vibrant colors as an elegant appetizer.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It takes 15 minutes but looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, which never gets old.
  • Every bite is a perfect balance of cool, creamy, tangy, and fresh without any cooking required.
  • You can assemble these ahead and let them sit for a few minutes, so you're not stressed when guests arrive.
02 -
  • Room-temperature mozzarella works better than cold because it has a softer texture that lets the flavors blend, not clash.
  • The moisture from the tomatoes will start breaking down your stack after 20 minutes, so assemble these as close to serving time as possible.
03 -
  • Use a very sharp knife and slice in one smooth motion rather than sawing; this gives you clean edges and prevents juice from leaking everywhere.
  • If tomato slices keep sliding, they're probably too wet—blot them more aggressively with paper towels before assembling.
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