Caprese salad is one of my summertime favorites. I love how the fresh flavors somehow make red, white and green seem not at all Christmas-y!
I usually make a layered version, with big slices of vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh mozzarella sprinkled with sliced basil leaves, salt and pepper, and drizzled with olive oil. But I also have a soft spot for mini things (I think this is hard-wired into females of all species?), and little baby balls of mozzarella are no exception. So this time I decided to make a mini caprese, focusing on the awesome textures.
Grape tomatoes were an obvious choice – one of my favorite salad ingredients of all time. I love the way they pop when you bite into them! It totally makes my day when they’re back in season and I can pick up a delicious-looking pint for $1.99, rather than $3.99 for some shriveled and bruised ones. Out-of-season tomatoes are just so sad.
I also changed this caprese salad up by adding a grain, specifically spelt. I love spelt for its chewy texture, and it makes any dish heartier. Along with the juicy tomatoes and smooth fresh mozzarella, it really contributes to the great texture combo in this salad.
This makes a great side dish for a summer dinner, or by itself in larger portions for lunch. I plan on eating it all summer long!
On a slightly different note, this weekend I accomplished a task I’d been meaning to get to for a long time: adding a Recipes page to this site! A link to it is in the main navigation bar at the top of the page. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s functional – a categorized list of my past recipes. Hopefully this will make it easier to navigate the archives and plan out a few meals! Let me know if you happen upon any links that are broken or point to the wrong place, and I’ll get them fixed ASAP.
Enjoy your Monday!
- scant 1 cup dry spelt berries, rinsed
- 1 pint (2 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 8-oz container fresh mozzarella balls, drained (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 3/4 cup thinly sliced basil leaves
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- In a small pot, bring spelt berries to a boil with 2 cups water. Reduce heat and simmer until tender and chewy, about 55 minutes. Drain any remaining water and cool to room temperature. (This can be done ahead of time.)
- Slice tomatoes in half. Add to a bowl with the cooked and cooled spelt, mozzarella balls, and sliced basil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Taste and add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
I’ve never seen spent berries, but I’m going to have to find some because i’m SO intrigued by this! It sounds amazing.
I have never cooked with spelt, but this looks so pretty and sounds absolutely delicious! It sounds to me like I have a new food to try!
I had a ridiculous homemade caprese salad this weekend (with the addition of avocado and chicken) and my tastebuds just about exploded. Nothing says “summer” more than salads like this!
Mmmm sounds delicious!
I’ve never tried using spelt with caprese before. But now I’m itching to try! I also love that you used mozzarella balls. It made the salad even prettier.
Caprese salad is one of my summer faves too and I’ve never tried turning it into a meal with grains. This is some great thinking!!
I love caprese salad…I’ll often just make it with some orzo and it’s simple and delicious. I’ll have to try it with spelt, sounds wonderful
I’ve never tried it with orzo – great idea!
Num!! I love this “heartier” version of a caprese salad? This is definitely going on my menu plan for a hot summer day!
Totally agreed on tomatoes! Not in season/supermarket tomatoes are actually one of my most despised foods…then, my dad started growing them himself and I can totally stomach them! Good thing, too, cause caprese is awesome.
this sounds delicious. I’m also a lover of anything in miniature form!