Opals Kitchen /// Caprese + Simplicity

One of the worst things you can do to your food, in my humble opinion, is overload it with flavors.  There is such a thing as too much!  The beauty and flavor of simplicity is often overlooked in the kitchen, people are afraid of not making something well enough and end up overcompensating with too much spice or too many ingredients. 
Perhaps one of the greatest examples of this, in my mind, is Caprese salad.  A recipe that practically everyone knows but no one utilizes near enough.  The simple combination of fresh herbs, fruit and cheese is a beautiful representations of how far simple can take you. 

Caprese Salad

1 lb ripe cherry tomatoes

8 oz fresh pearl mozzarella 

(or mozzarella cut into bit size pieces)

20 fresh basil leaves (washed)

Olive Oil, to drizzle

Salt and Pepper, to taste

To Make /// Combine tomatoes and mozzarella in bowl.  Ripe, don't cut, Basil into small pieces and stir.  Drizzle Olive Oil over entire bowl, no more that 1/4 of a cup as you don't want it to be too saturated.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and put in fridge for at least an hour for the flavors to combine.

Notes  /// Ripping, as apposed to chopping, your Basil is a personal preference on my part. I like the rough look and bold flavor basil gives, and don't like to pulverize my herbs.  They can stand on their own so leave them with some structural integrity.

Do not over salt! By letting the salad sit in the fridge for a bit, the flavors will combine and awaken.  You will be able to taste the salt much more at the end of an hour compared to when you mix it in.   Remember you can always add more salt, but you can't take it away.

If you don't feel like making any Caprese any time soon, I encourage you to do just one thing.  Take a recipe you make all the time,  perhaps a staple that you can make with your eyes closed, and find a way to simplify or freshen it.  Even if you just omit on ingredient or add just a bit of fresh herb, it can make a huge difference.  Have fun in the kitchen!  And remember that things don't have to be complicated to be yummy!