Second probably only to pizza when it comes to its “iconic” status, caprese salad, or insalata caprese if we want to say it in Italian, is one of the country’s favorite dishes. A staple in the summer, when the juiciest, sweetest tomatoes are abundant, it’s appreciated all year round thanks to how simple and quick it is to prepare — if you’re ok with less delicious, non-seasonal tomatoes,  that is. 

If you ask me, caprese is pure culinary perfection, because it is easy to make, tasty and incredibly satisfying, thanks to the lusciousness of mozzarella, and the incredible fragrance of basil. Everything is balanced by the delicate freshness of tomatoes and, of course, complemented and elevated to the Parnassus of food by a tad of extra virgin olive oil. Now, really… if that’s not poetry, I don’t know what is.