Tuscan Tomato Mozzarella Stack (Printable)

Bright stacks of tomato, mozzarella, and basil finished with olive oil and balsamic for a fresh Italian starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 4 medium ripe tomatoes
02 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves

→ Dairy

03 - 8.8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese

→ Pantry

04 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
07 - Sea salt, to taste

# How to make it:

01 - Cut the tomatoes and mozzarella into 8 even, 0.4-inch thick slices each.
02 - Wash and gently pat dry the fresh basil leaves.
03 - On a serving platter, place a tomato slice, then a mozzarella slice, followed by a basil leaf. Repeat layering to create stacks 3 to 4 layers high, finishing with a basil leaf on top.
04 - Insert a long toothpick or bamboo skewer vertically through the center of each stack to hold the layers together.
05 - Drizzle each stack with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Present immediately as a fresh, colorful appetizer.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • No cooking required means you can make this while hosting, looking completely at ease the whole time.
  • It tastes like summer distilled into bites, especially when tomatoes are at their peak.
  • The vertical presentation feels intentional and elegant without requiring any actual skill.
02 -
  • Room temperature tomatoes taste infinitely better than cold ones—take them out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavor comes through.
  • The skewer makes all the difference between an elegant stack and a toppling mess; don't skip it thinking they'll hold together on their own.
03 -
  • If layers start to slip while assembling, insert the skewer partway through the stack first, then slide layers down onto it rather than trying to spear through after stacking.
  • A tiny drizzle of aged balsamic under the olive oil adds complexity and depth that feels far more sophisticated than it should.
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