Caprese Dirt Salad - Finally back from my slight hiatus due to work! Jumped back into the kitchen and threw together this classic, simple, hard-to-beat Italian salad, made with only a handful of ingredients! The creamy burrata cheese, fragrant basil leaves, and sweet tomatoes are drizzled with tangy balsamic and quality olive oil. And, the “dirt” adds some texture, umami, and a little whimsy to the dish. I mean, when else can you say that you ate dirt (without injury)?! Gives new meaning to “farm-to-table” dining!
Crumb Dirt Mixture:
Mince 4-5 brown mushrooms. Transfer to a skillet with a few tbsp olive oil and cook on medium high heat until golden brown (and all liquid has evaporated)
In a food processor, process 3 slices of dark rye bread until it becomes a fine crumb.
Dump in rye crumbs into the sautéed mushrooms. Add olive oil and crisp up rye bread until dry.
Add in 1 tbsp of ground almonds (or almond flour).
Let cool to room temperature.
Salad Assembly:
Assemble dollops of burrata cheese (8 oz) (or mozzarella) with sliced or cherry tomatoes.
Dress with olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar. Season with Kosher salt and black pepper. Add in fresh sweet basil (chopped or leaves).
Sprinkle dirt around the edges lightly, making sure not to cover the tomatoes entirely. And finish with a pile of dirt in the center.