She Who Must Be Obeyed has been living in a hotel for six weeks now (I’ve only been in for a couple of weeks as of today); we’re finally about to get access to new living quarters this weekend.
As strange as it might sound, it appears we’ve both come to miss having our own kitchen most of all.
At the very top of the list of ‘please cook this first’ is an array of fresh salads incorporating summer’s best ingredients, with SWMBO pining most specifically for a fresh Caprese Salad with this garlic and herb infused Balsamic reduction.
It’s nothing fancy or complex, as the best things in life usually aren’t, highlighting the flavors of the summer’s best slicing tomatoes, fresh basil and a big ball of fresh mozzarella.
Those flavors are mighty tasty, though in my book this dish is pushed over the top by a simple balsamic vinegar reduction (a secret weapon for all sorts of grilled vegetables, even steak and chicken at our house) enhanced with a hint of garlic and whatever fresh herbs happen to be handy.
We’ll be back on the grill shortly though you’ll absolutely want to try this balsamic vinegar reduction – it’ll become a lifelong friend.
2 cups Balsamic vinegar
1 lightly crushed garlic clove
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme
3 really good summer slicing tomatoes, sliced 1/2 inch thick
12 ounces whole Mozzarella cheese, sliced thick
1 bunch fresh basil leaves
Olive oil, the good stuff
Coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Reduce that balsamic vinegar. Pour the balsamic into a medium saucepan, drop in the garlic glove and herbs, set over medium heat and simmer until reduced by roughly half to a thick glaze (easily coats a spoon, about 20 minutes for us). Remove the garlic and herbs, then set aside and cool to room temp.
Slice and chiffonade. Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella (She Who Must Be Obeyed likes the slices on the thick side) and chiffonade the basil.
Plate and pour. Artfully stack / arrange the tomatoes and mozzarella, sprinkle with the basil and drizzle with the olive oil and then the balsamic reduction. (Emeril would say BAM while drizzling the balsamic.) Finally sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
Enjoy.
