Arugula and Mozarella Spiked Florida Tomatoes with Basil Vinaigrette

Instructions

Yields: 4 Servings

Ingredients

4 medium sized Florida tomatoes
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese
1 bunch fresh Florida arugula (or basil)

Vinaigrette

Ingredients
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 clove garlic, minced
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Preparation

For vinaigrette
In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, basil, and garlic until completely emulsified.Taste and adjust seasoning with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.

For tomato

Rinse tomatoes under cold running water and pat dry with clean paper towels. With a sharp serrated knife, cut each tomato into an even number of wedges. Then make a horizontal cut near the tip of each wedge, being careful not to cut all the way down. Set aside sliced tomatoes.

Cut mozzarella into slices that will fit into the slices made in the tomatoes. (Try to fit one piece of mozzarella into a tomato to see what size you’ll need to cut the rest.) To assemble, insert a slice of mozzarella into each tomato wedge. Arrange wedges on a plate and top with arugula or basil leaves. Garnish with basil vinaigrette. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature.