Salad Caprese - the most Italian dish

Vladimir Mayakovsky was mistaken when he focused his attention only on the plumbing that we inherited from ancient Rome. Italian cuisine can also be considered the founder of a food culture that has become characteristic of the whole of European civilization, whose adherents we can rightfully consider ourselves. And even French cuisine, traditionally perceived as the most refined in the Old World, originates from the inheritance of the traditions of the empire, the center of which was the Apennine peninsula. Having trusted the first impression experienced by a gourmet, who touched canonical Italian dishes, he risks making a wrong impression about the entire Mediterranean cuisine, as being too simple and unpretentious. It seems that only four food elements prevail in all variety of offered dishes: tomatoes, pasta, olive oil and garlic. But this is just the case when the first impression is deceptive. The simplicity of Italian cuisine is rather its dignity, which confirms the well-known axiom that everything great is simple.

A convincing example of this judgment is Italian Caprese salad , which has already become popular with Russian connoisseurs of this original cuisine. It is just as simple in its ingredients, as harmonious as the palette. Let's start with its name, which is often misunderstood, as leading its origin from the sounding of the word "whim". In fact, this salad was named after the place of birth on the island of Capri. It is rumored that Alexei Peshkov (Maxim Gorky) treated this dish with great passion during his days on this island. Although without the availability of such legendary recommendations, Caprese's salad will not lose in its attractiveness. It has embodied a harmonious combination of the bright appearance of the original food with its unique taste.

Salad Caprese, the recipe of which is really simple, is not in essence a salad in our traditional understanding, but can be attributed to light snacks, so beloved by the Italians. Outwardly it looks very appetizing - on the circles a sliced tomato is laid a similar size slice of mozzarella cheese, reminiscent of the appearance of the usual cheese, which is decorated on top with a rich green leaf of the basil and flavored with essential olive oil for salads and snacks. All this splendor in concentric circles is laid out on a plate and looks like the Italian national flags of red-white-green color, which are simply blasphemous to the true patriot, without having performed before it the habit of hymn of Italy. But as noted in practice, most Italians are not so patriotic and consume this appetizer with an enviable appetite, praising the creator for their favorite Caprese salad.

But this we only told about the classic Caprice, which is not so often found in restaurants and simple taverns in Italy. In reality, Caprese salad often becomes only the basis for a wide variety of dishes. This is the essence of Italian cuisine, which is based on the centuries created the fundamental foundations of its cuisine, managed to diversify it with so many dishes that it's time to get lost from the proposed choice. In any tavern you will be offered Caprese with rucola, or with prawns, or with specially cooked meat of exotic fish and shellfish, or else God knows what, but is as tasty and beautifully decorated. Apparently, thanks to its remarkable simplicity and variety, Italian cuisine is so popular all over the world. Is this not the best recognition of merit in the measure of modest Italian chefs.