FOOD NEWS
Ina Garten's Secret To Pulling More Flavor Out Of Caprese Salad
BY JAVARIA AKBAR
Although Caprese salads ordinarily feature uncooked ripe tomatoes, Ina Garten shares a simple way to elevate the dish: roasting the tomatoes first and adding a layer of seasoning.
A low and slow roast where the tomatoes are cut-side up on a roasting tray will remove the excess water, eliminating their soggy centers and concentrating their flavor.
They can be enriched further by adding fresh garlic slices on top of the tomatoes, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, and a dash of sugar while it bakes.
These ingredients bring out the tomatoes' natural sweetness and create layers of flavor. The roasting process also caramelizes the natural sugars within the tomato's flesh.
Before roasting the tomatoes, remove the seeds. Doing so will ensure a smooth texture for your salad and speed up roasting time.