An eyeful of fresh greens dotted with the peppery bite of fresh basil then loaded up with red, ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, salty kalamata olives and spicy red onion. Add creamy slices of mozzarella and drizzle on a thick, luscious vinaigrette. It’s a plate full of summer and freshness in every bite.
One of summer’s most beloved salad’s is most certainly the Caprese Salad, simply made with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese. So let’s start with those great ingredients, toss in more garden fresh favorites, bringing along more and more flavor.
Layer mixed greens among those basil leaves and sweet cherry tomatoes. Now add cucumbers, the salty, savory note of kalamata olives and a pop from sliced red onions.
Then turn up the volume on a basic olive oil and balsamic drizzle by adding tangy Dijon mustard with a touch of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, whisking until thick and almost creamy.
It’s a deliciously easy dish, perfect for busy schedules.
Sicilian Salad with Balsamic Dijon Vinaigrette
For the vinaigrette:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup aged balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon good Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
For the salad:
2 cups mixed greens
½ cup fresh basil leaves
8 ounces cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, about 1 cup
½ cup sliced cucumbers
½ cup pitted kalamata olives
¼ cup thinly sliced red onions
2-½ ounces mozzarella, sliced
⅓ teaspoon pink finishing salt* or sea salt, or to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste
To make the vinaigrette:
Pour the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar into a measuring cup or small bowl. Add the Dijon mustard along with the kosher salt and the black pepper. Whisk together until well blended.
For the salad:
Scatter the mixed greens and the basil leaves onto a serving platter.
Layer with the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and sliced red onions. Top with the slices of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with the finishing salt, the black pepper and drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad.
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and serve.
Serves 4 as a side salad, 2 as an entrée.
*Pink finishing salt has a mild, almost lightly sweet undertone to it. You can find it at many specialty food stores or online.
Sicilian Salad with Balsamic Dijon Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- For the vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- For the salad:
- 2 cups mixed greens
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, about 1 cup
- ½ cup sliced cucumbers
- ½ cup pitted kalamata olives
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onions
- 2-½ ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
- ⅓ teaspoon pink finishing salt* or sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- To make the vinaigrette:
- Pour the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar into a measuring cup or small bowl. Add the Dijon mustard along with the kosher salt and the black pepper.
- Whisk together until well blended.
- For the salad:
- Scatter the mixed greens and the basil leaves onto a serving platter. Layer with the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and sliced red onions.
- Top with the slices of mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle with the finishing salt, the black pepper and drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad.
