Tomato-Mozzarella Bruschetta - a variation on a classic pairing

Posted on Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 4:09 a.m.

Tomato-Mozzarella Bruschetta - a variation on a classic pairing

By Peggy Lampman

Tomato-Mozzerella Bruschette

Peggy Lampman | Contributor

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Safe to say it's summer yet? When shopping at the Kerrytown Farmer's Market last week, I can finally believe it. Produce stands are in full swing, with berries, squash, mushrooms, greens and tomatoes begging to be put to good use.

Creamy buffalo mozzarella oh so right with local tomatoes.

Yesterday I purchased a 7-ounce ball of Italian-imported buffalo mozzarella from Trader Joe's. The classic pairing of tomatoes — hot from a local vine — paired with creamy mozzarella is just what I'm craving. Of course you could keep the dish entirely local by pairing the tomatoes and bread with mozzarella freshly made from Zingerman's or The Boulevard Market in Tecumseh. Both sell their wares at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market in Kerrytown, and Produce Station carries local cheeses as well. Usually these are my choices for pairing with tomatoes.

Small clove of garlic does double-duty in the recipe

Last fall I spent a couple of weeks visiting a friend in Lucca, Italy, and was spoiled with the buffalo mozzarella readily available on every street corner. It's creamy and has a unique, piquant tang that buffalo milk provides; what I'd purchased from TJ's was quite good.

Here's another recipe for a classic tomato-mozzerella (Caprese) platter with pesto oil.

Yield: 4 Bruschetta (2 servings)
Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

4 slices artisan bread*
1 small garlic cloves, halved
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon best quality balsamic vinegar
2 medium-sized, locally-grown, ripe tomatoes
1 7-8 ounce ball fresh mozzarella
4 large basil leaves

*For this loaded bruschetta, I prefer a thinner sliced bread, so the final bite is not overwhelming.

Directions

1. Rub cut side of garlic over both sides of bread (reserve garlic cloves). Brush both sides with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toast bread in oven or grill over medium heat until just crisp.
2. Finely chop garlic and whisk into vinegar and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil; season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
3. Slice tomatoes and lightly season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Slice mozzarella. Make a chiffonade of basil by stacking the leaves together, rolling them into a cylinder, then (with a very sharp knife) slicing the cylinder into threads.
4. On plates or a serving dish, arrange tomatoes and mozzarella on toasted bread, drizzle with vinaigrette, top with chiffonade and serve.

Peggy Lampman is a real-time food writer and photographer posting daily feeds on her website and in the Food & Grocery section of Annarbor.com. You may also e-mail her at peggy@dinnerfeed.com.

Comments

Melanie Maxwell

Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.

My three favorite food groups! Tomato, cheese and bread. What eles do you even need!? :)

YpsiGreen

Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 2:59 p.m.

"Both sell there wares..." Really? Another crack job at proofreading. But hey, the food looks great!

Peggy Lampman

Tue, Jul 16, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.

Sorry YpsiGreen - got so caught up in the rhapsody of the gooey mozzArella, my mind congealed! Thanks for pointing this out. Peggy

YpsiGreen

Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 10:50 p.m.

Sorry to say: one more. "a classic tomato-mozzerella..." mozzArella

Jessica Webster

Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 3:18 p.m.

Thanks for pointing that out, YpsiGreen. We made the edit. And you're also right about the photo - I think I might need to make this for dinner tonight.