Caprese Sandwich with Pesto

This amazing Caprese Sandwich with Pesto can be prepared in only 5 minutes!

The best Caprese salad I’ve ever had was at a restaurant in Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. They served a giant ball of fresh Buffalo Mozzarella surrounded by chopped tomatoes, fresh basil, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.

Caprese salad is beautiful in it’s simplicity. It’s comprised of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and sometimes balsamic vinegar. Because it’s so simple, there’s no room for inferior ingredients as there’s no where for them to hide: good quality ingredients are a must.

This Caprese Sandwich with Pesto combines a traditional caprese salad with fresh bread and my homemade pesto. The creamy mozzarella and fresh tomato are perfectly complimented by the toasted nuttiness of the cashews, sharpness of the parmesan, and the herby brightness of the basil in the pesto. The whole thing is topped off with some crisp spinach and a good quality olive oil ties it all together. This is more than a sandwich, it’s a beautiful celebration of fresh ingredients.

TOTAL TIME FOR MAKING A CAPRESE SANDWICH WITH PESTO

• Preparation Time – 5 minutes
• Cooking Time – 0 minutes (plus 10 minutes if you make the pesto from scratch)
• Total Time – 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

All the ingredients for this Caprese Sandwich with Pesto can be sourced from any local grocer.

• 100 grams Buffalo Mozzarella, sliced
• 1 Tomato, sliced
• 1 tbsp Pesto
• 2 slices Rustic Bread
• 5 Baby Spinach Leaves
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Fresh Basil

WHAT KIND OF BREAD SHOULD I USE IN THIS SANDWICH?

This delicious sandwich needs a hearty, crusty bread to support all the delicious fillings. I would suggest ciabatta, calebrese, sourdough, or another rustic hearty bread.

WHAT IS BUFFALO MOZZARELLA?

Buffalo Mozzarella is made from the milk of Italian Water Buffalo. It has a thicker, richer taste than mozzarella made with cow’s milk, and is the traditional way of making this incredible cheese. However, because water buffalo are less common than cows, buffalo mozzarella also tends to be more expensive.

WHAT KIND OF TOMATOES SHOULD I USE?

I would suggest using whatever is fresh and in season. If possible, I like to use heirloom tomatoes in my caprese salad as they tend to be more flavourful.

HOW SHOULD I STORE MY PESTO FOR THIS RECIPE?

Whenever I make homemade pesto I store extra in the freezer. It keeps beautifully, and that way I always have some on hand when I want to make this delicious sandwich.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

CAN I USE ANOTHER KIND OF OIL?

I wouldn’t recommend using a different kind of oil in this recipe. Extra virgin olive oil has great flavour and is the traditional option in this sandwich.

CAN I USE ANOTHER KIND OF CHEESE?

You need to use a fresh mozzarella in this sandwich. If you can’t source buffalo mozzarella, fiore de latte, or regular fresh mozzarella would work as well.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER LEAFY GREEN FOR SPINACH?

This sandwich would taste delicious with both Kale or Arugula as well.

EQUIPMENT FOR THIS CAPRESE SANDWICH WITH PESTO

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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make this delicious Caprese Sandwich with Pesto:

• Kitchen Knife – Zwilling J.A. Henkel Kitchen Knife a good kitchen knife is a necessary tool for any home cook. Quality and price point varies widely. This is what I use at home. It’s a perfectly decent knife, while still being very affordable.

• Cutting Board

COOKING DIRECTIONS FOR CAPRESE SANDWICH WITH PESTO

This delicious Caprese Sandwich can be put together in 5 minutes and will be perfect if you remember a few simple rules.

1. Use fresh Buffalo Mozzarella.
2. Use the freshest produce you can find.
3. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil.

MAKE AHEAD STORAGE

Luckily this meal comes together extremely quickly because it can’t be prepared in advance or stored for later.

FINISHED DISH

Enjoy your amazing Caprese Sandwich with Pesto!

OTHER LUNCH DISHES

Chickpea Feta Salad with Tahini Lemon Dressing

Easy Avocado Toast with Fried Egg and Mushrooms

Flavourful Focaccia Meatball Sandwich

Yogurt Marinated Chicken Naan

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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