There is nothing better than fresh grilled vegetables, especially when they are seasoned with just the right herbs and spices. In this recipe I use loads of fresh organic basil because the taste and health benefits are endless!
½ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tsp fresh thyme, 1 clove garlic, 1 tsp lemon zest, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salad
Slice each Portobello caps in half so that you have 8 mushroom caps in total.
4 portobello mushroom caps
Brush dressing on to Portobello mushrooms and whole tomatoes.
4 med tomatoes
The key to grilling Portobello mushrooms is making sure the grates are clean and brushed with oil right before the mushrooms go on.
Grill Portobello caps and tomatoes for approximately 7 minutes on each side or until you reach desired doneness.
Slice grilled tomatoes into rounds carefully with a serrated knife.
Place one sliced mushroom cap on each of four plates, and top each with some basil leaves. Stack another mushroom and 1 mozzarella slice onto each. Layer more basil and top with sliced grilled tomato and garnish with basil chiffonade (thinly sliced basil).
1 bunch fresh basil, 4 oz fresh mozzarella
More About This Recipe
Here’s the skinny on the beauty of basil….The French call basil ’herbe royale (the royal plant) and I couldn’t agree more. This green herb is a great source of calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Some tests have shown that basil has a salutary effect on people’s outlook and disposition. Many other cultures value basil for its ability to relieve intestinal pain, bloating and diarrhea (hello flat belly!). Basil’s essential oil has been found to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as listeria, e. coli and staphylococcus. So when you enjoy this caprese salad you can be confident that you are serving your friends and family a delicious gift of health. Buon appetite!