Caprese Sandwich

The ideal Caprese Sandwich is created by spreading homemade pesto onto crusty bread, layering thick and juicy tomato slices and fresh mozzarella slices, and finishing it with a delightful drizzle of balsamic glaze. Packed with flavor, this one is destined to become one of your summertime or any-time favorites. This vegetarian sandwich comes straight from a resort island restaurant fit for kings. Read on to learn more

What Is The Origin Of The Caprese Salad And The Caprese Sandwich?

The origins of Caprese salad can be traced to the early 1920s in Italy. There are two separate stories on the origin of the Caprese Sandwich. The first one is that in the 1920's a patriotic mason wanted to represent the Italian flag (red, white, and green) in a dish and created the Caprese Salad. The first documented mention of a Caprese salad appeared on the menu of the Hotel Quisiana on the island of Capri.

The Caprese Salad didn't quite gain widespread popularity. In the 1950s, the Egyptian King Farouk, requested a light afternoon snack, while vacationing in Capri. He was presented with a Caprese sandwich by his chef. From that moment onward, the dish's popularity skyrocketed. The Caprese salad and the Caprese sandwich soon became a staple of Capri's culinary scene and cultural heritage.

What is Caprese?

Caprese means "from Capri" in Italian. In the culinary world caprese is now a synonym for a specific particular combination of flavors that comes from a salad originally served on the Isle of Capri in Italy. The ingredients are fresh and easy to find, especially in the summer; Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. The flavor combination has been translated into many different dishes such as our Peach Caprese Salad dressed with a pistachio vinaigrette, High Protein Caprese Pasta Salad, and in particular, the Caprese sandwich is wildly popular. We made ours with our homemade pesto, and balsamic glaze instead of just basil leaves.

Ingredients for the Caprese Sandwich Recipe

• Fresh Tomatoes. Those are the best if you can grab some tomatoes at a farmer's market or from a local stand.
• Fresh Mozzarella Cheese. No cheese compares to fresh slices of real mozzarella cheese. Find it in the specialty cheese case at your supermarket.
• Pesto Sauce. Use our recipe to make your homemade basil pesto sauce for this delicious sandwich.
• Balsamic Glaze. A reduction of balsamic vinegar becomes a rich, sweet glaze, the perfect finishing touch for all Caprese recipes.
• Slices of Bread. Ciabatta bread is the perfect crunch and sturdiness for a tomato sandwich.

Choosing the Best Bread

When you know you will make a tomato mozzarella sandwich the next day or two, pick up the perfect bread at the supermarket or bakery. You want bread that is crusty with just the right of sturdiness to give structure to tomatoes and mozzarella with pesto sauce.

A floppy bread will not fare well with this sandwich. Crunch is a nice textural contrast for the soft tomatoes and cheese. I stay away from sourdough in this case because the flavors do not play well together in my opinion but I know others sometimes recommend this bread. Ciabatta rolls are the perfect bread choice. If you can't find that, look for a nice Italian loaf or French baguette.

How to Make a Caprese Sandwich

Making this sandwich could not be more accessible and is an upgrade from your standard tomato sandwich.

Start with homemade pesto. If you haven't made our basil pesto yet, you are in for a treat! Fresh pesto is so full of flavor.

Next, layer sliced tomato and sliced mozzarella.

Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze

Of course, the best time to make a Caprese sandwich is whenever tomatoes are in season, and you can pick them up at the farmer's market. If that's impossible, look for tomatoes on the vine or Campari tomatoes for the best flavor. Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze to your sandwich for the perfect pop of flavor contrast. Finish it off with freshly ground coarse black pepper if you like, and your upscale sandwich is ready to go.

FAQ

Is a Caprese Sandwich healthy?

There is certainly nothing unhealthy about this sandwich. If you are looking for a more low-carb option, you can go with an open-faced sandwich.

Why do they call it Caprese?

This particular sandwich was first served on the Isle of Capri.

What side goes with a Caprese sandwich?

Try pairing it with your favorite gazpacho, creamy corn soup , or fresh salad.

Where is Capri?

The Isle of Capri is a small island in Italy and is part of the region of Campania in the Tyrrhenian Sea. This island has been a resort island for hundreds of years.

Tips to Make the Best Caprese Sandwich

Use a sprinkle of salt or coarse kosher salt on your tomatoes to improve the flavor as you build the sandwich.

Don't add too much balsamic glaze, but try to make sure you have a little taste of it in every bite for that acidic contrast you will crave.

Variations

1. Add arugula for contrasting greens that pair perfectly with the basil pesto and tomato flavors.
2. A drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil is a nice touch for flavor contrast.
3. Fresh basil leaves can be a nice way to bump up the flavor and taste of the sandwich as long as you don't add too many. Chop them up and add a sprinkling over the pesto layer.
4. Toast the bread in the oven on a baking sheet to add significant crunch to your sandwich, or toast the entire thing in the oven so that you have melted creamy mozzarella for a different take on this classic. You can also use a panini press.
5. Add half an avocado for a lovely fatty component to balance the balsamic glaze.

Caprese Sandwich Serving Suggestions

Pair your tomato mozzarella sandwich with a lovely Rosé wine. Serve it with a side of roasted olives or patatas bravas.

More Great Caprese Flavors

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