Caprese Sandwich Recipe, Picnic Dish, Vegan

• Food: Caprese Sandwich

• Writer: Alice

• Content-Type: Food Blog

Looking for the ideal vegetarian main dish for a picnic? Give this sandwich a try! It’s straightforward and tasty, stuffed with tomatoes and fresh basil.

This Caprese sandwich recipe is here to demonstrate that sometimes the nicest things in life are the most straightforward.

Thanks to luscious, sweet tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella cheese, this dish is incredibly simple to prepare but is nonetheless unbelievably wonderful. You may make a delectable lunch by slicing them between slices of focaccia that have just been prepared.

If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you might already be aware that my initial enthusiasm for using seasonal ingredients came from the flavor combination of basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella.

When I was traveling through Italy, I kept eating Caprese salads and marveled at how something so basic could taste so amazing. I hope you prepare this recipe this summer if you’ve never had a sandwich (or salad, for that matter).

It demonstrates that superb cooking doesn’t have to be difficult as long as your ingredients are fresh. Oh, and it’s ideal for a picnic as well.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS FOR CAPRESE SANDWICH

For this simple sandwich recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• Focaccia – Chewy, flavorful focaccia ups the ante on this sandwich. If none are available, create your own or use fresh baguette or ciabatta rolls instead.
• The fresh tomatoes and basil are contrasted with the rich, creamy flavor of fresh mozzarella cheese.
• Choose the best tomatoes you can find because any variety will work here!
• A sandwich must have fresh basil leaves! If your leaves are exceptionally huge, chop them up before adding them to your sandwich.
• For some extra green and crunch, use arugula.
• I include the following ingredients as optional, but if you can, use them: roasted cherry tomatoes and pickled red onions. This recipe is elevated by its vibrant, umami flavors.
• They bind it all together and bring the tastes to life: extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.

VARIATIONS

Although there are many delicious ways to modify this sandwich recipe, I really like it as stated. Listed here are some of my favorites:

• The bread is toasted. Each piece of bread should be brushed with olive oil on the cut side and toasted in the oven or on a grill pan until it is just beginning to turn golden. then put the sandwich together!
• or create a sandwich on a grill. Replace the focaccia with some decent, crusty bread. Cook the sandwich like you would any grilled cheese before eating. A grill pan or cast-iron skillet should be preheated to medium heat. Grill the sandwich on all sides until the cheese is melted, brushing the outside with olive oil.
• Dress the dish. Instead of extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle some lemon vinaigrette over your sandwich to finish it. Alternately, apply the balsamic glaze from this post or a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Strengthen the herbs. Along with basil, use fresh mint and thyme leaves.
• Replace the cheese. Unable to locate fresh mozzarella? Don’t stress over it! Here, too, homemade labneh is excellent.
• Alternately, go vegan. Sliced avocado can be used in place of the cheese, and vegan basil pesto can be spread over the bread for additional richness.

TIPS FOR MAKING A CAPRESE SANDWICH

• A better sandwich comes from superior ingredients. Each ingredient in this recipe truly stands out since it is so straightforward. Because of this, the quality of the finished sandwich will depend entirely on the fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and bread used to make it. Always prepare this dish in the summer when the basil is soft and aromatic and the tomatoes are sweet and juicy.
• Don’t overlook seasoning it. Even though they might appear like afterthoughts in this recipe, salt, pepper, and olive oil are crucial components. The olive oil unites all the tastes, while the salt brings out the sweetness and tang of the tomatoes.
• Organize ahead. A picnic or packed lunch would be the ideal place for this sandwich! It works best if you prepare it no more than a few hours in advance because the tomatoes have so much water in them. It will get soggy if you plan ahead too much. The sandwich will stay together until you eat it if you wrap it in aluminum foil, a reusable sandwich wrap, or puncture it with a toothpick after you’ve made it. See more of my most useful advice for making sandwiches here!

SERVING IDEAS FOR CAPRESE SANDWICH

Although the sandwich makes a filling lunch on its own, it also pairs well with a variety of sides. S

erve it with your preferred chips and fresh fruit to keep things simple, or serve it with chopped fresh vegetables and a savory dip like hummus, baba ganoush, or white bean dip. It tastes great with any of the following salad recipes or a chilled cup of gazpacho:

• Italian Chopped Salad
• Watermelon Salad with Feta
• Cucumber Salad
• Best Broccoli Salad
• Shaved Fennel Salad
• Caesar Salad
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

CAPRESE SANDWICH

The BEST lunch for the summer is a sandwich! Each component truly stands out in this dish because the ingredients are so straightforward. Use the finest bread, mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes you can find!

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the arugula, mozzarella, and tomato slices for the sandwiches and place them on the focaccia. If desired, incorporate a few pickled onions along with the roasted tomatoes.
2. Basil leaves, a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper are sprinkled on top.

NOTES

Swap out the cheese for slices of avocado and a dollop of vegan pesto to make this dish vegan.