An Italian starter dish built on whole ingredients.

Servings: 4
Active time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min

Organic sourcing

Heirloom tomatoes should be organic due to their delicate skin and flavor dependency on good growing practices. Basil, as a leafy green, is also worth buying organic.

Ingredients

• 4 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
• 250 g fresh mozzarella, sliced
• 1 bunch fresh basil leaves
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• to taste sea salt
• to taste freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Arrange the sliced heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella on a large platter, alternating slices.
2. Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella slices.
3. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the salad.
4. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
5. Serve immediately as a fresh appetizer or starter.

Notes

• If heirloom tomatoes are unavailable, use the ripest tomatoes you can find.
• Buffalo mozzarella can be used for a more authentic flavor.
• Garnish with a few additional whole basil leaves for decoration.

Source

Paraphrased from the culinary canon by Organic.is editors, 2026. Classic Italian recipe. If you'd like a specific source for further reading, ask Tinni (bottom-right) for a book recommendation.