Nov 4

Nov 4 Spooky Marinated Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

We had a Halloween party this past weekend, and among the spread was a marinated tomato and mozzarella salad. I shaped the mozzarella into little skulls for a fun (and slightly spooky!) touch. Simple and flavorful, with a hint of Halloween spirit!

SERVES: 8
PREP TIME: 20 MINS COOK TIME: 2 HRS, 0 MINS TOTAL TIME: 2 HRS, 20 MINS

Tools

Skull mold

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds cherry tomatoes, halved
12 ounces mozzarella ciliegine

For the dressing

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons red onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon basil, finely chopped
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice each mozzarella ciliegine in half. Place a piece of mozzarella in each skull cavity. Bake for 8 minutes to soften. Using a spoon, press the cheese into the mold. A lot of liquid will be released during the baking process, so be careful to not burn yourself!
Place molds into refrigerator for 10 minutes to cool.
In a small jar, combine the dressing ingredients. Place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously to emulsify.
Once the mozzarella has cooled, arrange tomatoes and mozzarella in a single layer on a shallow dish. Pour dressing over tomatoes and mozzarella.
Marinate for 2-3 hours. If you plan to marinate for longer, place the salad in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature prior to serving.
Enjoy!