Christmas Candy Cane Caprese (Printable)

Festive holiday twist on classic Italian Caprese arranged in candy cane shape with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced into rounds
02 - 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced into rounds
03 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves

→ Garnish & Dressing

04 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
07 - Coarse sea salt, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Arrange tomato and mozzarella slices alternately on a large serving platter in the shape of a candy cane, overlapping each slice slightly to create distinctive red and white stripes.
02 - Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tomato and mozzarella slices throughout the arrangement for vibrant color and fresh flavor.
03 - Drizzle olive oil evenly over the entire salad, then add balsamic glaze in a fine zigzag pattern or serve alongside for guests to add individually.
04 - Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper and coarse sea salt generously over the salad according to preference.
05 - Present the candy cane Caprese salad right away while ingredients are at peak freshness and the presentation retains its festive appeal.

# Tips from dashanddishes:

01 -
  • The candy cane shape turns humble ingredients into something people will photograph before eating
  • Takes fifteen minutes but looks like you spent hours planning it
  • The red and white stripes make any holiday table instantly feel more festive
02 -
  • Room temperature tomatoes release less water than cold ones, so let them sit out for about thirty minutes before slicing
  • The candy cane shape works best on a white platter because the contrast makes the stripes pop
  • Assemble this no more than thirty minutes before serving or the tomato juices will blur your beautiful stripes
03 -
  • Use your sharpest knife to slice the tomatoes and cheese so each round is perfectly uniform
  • Work on the platter you will serve from because transferring a candy cane shaped salad is practically impossible

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