Caprese Salad {with a twist}

by Kiran on October 4, 2011 · 40 comments

in Salads, Vegetarian

Happy Tuesday!

I won’t begin by asking about your day. I am sure it’s fabulous to most of you, Apple fans out there. The iPhone 4S announcement is out, that crashed Apple.com. Do I need to say anything else?

For those of you sober phone addicts, thanks for listening to my antics.

I have a huge problem with weather. As if you don’t know already, I complain too much about weather.

You are probably sick of my complaining about summer.

You are probably thinking assuming, I am easing you into another earful about how much I hate the sweltering hot weather in Florida.

You are probably thinking, “why can’t she just skip to the recipe instead of trying to be a weather reporter or a novel writer of sort?

Hmmph!

I’ll cut to the chase. I am guilty as charged. Garnered I’ve constantly complained about the weather all summer long, but I can’t stop thinking about summer produce ever since fall officially changed the season.

I can’t stop thinking about how much I would miss buying boat-loads of fresh tomatoes, berries and chugging copious amounts of delicious strawberry lemonade, all day long.

I can’t stop thinking about colorful blooms that brightens our days. Fall literally takes away the beauty of summer.

Ok, so admittedly I am just being a baby about fall. Or the weather, in general.

But before you beat me up, look at how sad those tomatoes are? And the nerve I have, displaying it as food prop? Not only I am beating up myself about the weather, but tomatoes are beating up themselves too! By the way, in case you didn’t get it – that was meant as a pun.

In honor of preserving what is left of summer, I present to you:

Caprese Salad with a disguised fellow.

And that fellow, my friends – is a Paneer.

How is the weather in your neck of woods? Are you willing to let go of summer, just yet?

Bon Appétit!

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

 Ingredients:

  • 6 oz paneer, cubed
  • 2 medium tomatoes on-the-vine, sliced
  • a few fresh basil leaves
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Spice mix
  • 1/2 tsp fleur de sel
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp crushed coriander
  • 1/2 tsp crushed cumin
Directions:
  1. Prepare the spice mix by mixing all ingredients.
  2. Cube paneer to 1/2 inch all sides. Heat a non-stick skillet on a low heat setting.
  3. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil and slightly brown the paneer cubes on all sides. This shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes.
  4. Make the vinaigrette by adding olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a few pinches of spice mix (more/less to your liking).
  5. Slice tomatoes and pick a few fresh basil leaves for plating.
  6. Assemble salad by stacking a piece of paneer, topped with a tomato and fresh basil leaf.
  7. Continue stacking to desired height.
  8. Garnish salad with a drizzle of vinaigrette and a healthy sprinkle of spice mix.

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Comments on this entry are closed.

1 Matt @ The Athlete's Plate October 4, 2011 at 7:52 PM

This looks excellent. You know I’m a sucker for cheese 😉
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..BTB Sunglasses Review

2 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 10:56 PM

Matt,
Have you ever tried paneer? It’s an Indian cheese. I know you would love this recipe as well 🙂

3 Seema October 5, 2011 at 7:18 AM

Wow its looking soooooooooo nice.I will surely try my hands on it.Thanks for sharing

4 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 10:56 PM

Seema,
Thank you! Try this recipe and let me know how it tastes 🙂

5 Gayatri October 5, 2011 at 11:28 AM

Man! I have to try this!
Gayatri recently posted..Recent Read: Henna for the Broken-Hearted

6 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Gayatri,
Thanks! Let me know how it tastes 🙂

7 Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen October 5, 2011 at 4:17 PM

What an elegant presentation. I’ve been a bit of a baby about fall lately too but today it’s been pouring rain and I have to admit I love it!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..Chocolate Fig Tarts | Fresh Figs in Good Company

8 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:01 PM

Sylvie,
Thanks for the compliments! Coming from you, it’s a huge deal to me 🙂

9 Aakash Kokz October 5, 2011 at 9:16 PM

This is so yummy .. nice post 🙂
Aakash Kokz recently posted..I Want The One

10 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Aakash,
Thanks a lot buddy 🙂

11 Kelly October 5, 2011 at 9:56 PM

Oh what a creative and dazzling version of caprese! Love the use of paneer here. Beautiful photos.

12 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:09 PM

Kelly,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for such lovely compliments – you made my day 😀

13 Barbara | Creative Culinary October 6, 2011 at 12:36 PM

Great twist and gorgeous photos.
Barbara | Creative Culinary recently posted..Hot Slaw, Bacon and Cheese Sandwich for #Recipe Swap

14 Divya October 6, 2011 at 2:57 PM

Love the unique take on caprese salad. I actually make a similar salad with paneer but use chilli-garlic oil instead of the usual olive oil. Simply divine! I’ll have to try your version out too!
Divya recently posted..Beauty Eats- Mulled cranberry-apple cider

15 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:36 PM

Divya,
I LOVED your magazine! Congrats and good luck in your endeavors 🙂

16 kankana October 6, 2011 at 6:10 PM

oh c’mon who doesn’t crib about weather! I crib all the time. i get tired of too much sun .. too much rain .. too much cold. The husband gave up listening to all these 😛
This is a great twist you gave and beautifully presented!
kankana recently posted..Raskadam (An Indian Sweet made with milk and sugar) – A Guest Post for Radhika

17 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:43 PM

Kankana,
You are too good honey. Love ya 🙂

18 Russell at Chasing Delicious October 6, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Yum! I’m glad you’re not letting go of summer yet. You’ve inspired me to do the same thing. And I love this take on the caprese salad. It looks scrumptious! I want a plate of this right now.

19 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:44 PM

Russell,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the compliments! I went over your blog and was instantaneously smitten 🙂

20 Sonia October 6, 2011 at 9:39 PM

Hey kiran, this is an interesting and inspiring post. will surely try this recipe of yours. Best Regards, sonia

21 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:51 PM

Sonia,
Thanks dear, do try and let me know how it tastes 🙂

22 Tanvi@SinfullySpicy October 7, 2011 at 2:13 AM

Love your spicy kick to caprese..I think mozarella tastes so much better with spices- like in paneer tikka pizza..LOVE it!
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy recently posted..Chettinad Chicken – A Guest Post for Kulsum of Journey Kitchen

23 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:56 PM

Tanvi,
I didn’t use mozzarella in this recipe. Just plain ‘ole paneer jazzed up with spices 🙂

24 Bloggie :) October 7, 2011 at 3:31 AM

Loved the pics…:) so appetizing 🙂

25 Kiran October 13, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Bloggie,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the lovely comment 🙂

26 mycookinghut October 8, 2011 at 9:58 AM

A very interesting take on caprese salad!
mycookinghut recently posted..get your jelly on – day 7: homemade chicken liver pâté

27 Vijitha October 8, 2011 at 3:43 PM

Even I keep cribbing about the weather. he he!!! My husband calls me super opinionated that I don’t even spare the nature.Caprese salad with paneer is an awesome idea.
Vijitha recently posted..Suvir’s Salmon "en papillote" with tomato chutney

28 Kiran October 13, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Vijitha,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the compliment! We are entitled to crib, regardless what the Husband says 😉

29 Harsha October 9, 2011 at 2:13 AM

Ahh Paneer! Yeah, the tomatoes look sad, but are red and juicy. Your photography, the presentation made this simple salad look so yum!
Harsha recently posted..I wish..

30 Ellie | Gourmand Recipes October 9, 2011 at 10:41 PM

A very nice twist to the classic caprese salad! Well done Kiran.
Ellie | Gourmand Recipes recently posted..Pumpkin Fritters

31 foodie @ tastingspot October 10, 2011 at 1:48 AM

i like your pictures and would like to invite you to share them on tastingspot.com

32 Kiran October 13, 2011 at 10:45 AM

Foodie,
Thanks for the compliments and welcome to Recipebox 🙂

33 Reem | Simply Reem October 10, 2011 at 12:29 PM

What a beautiful beautiful salad….
God the pictures are gorgeous….
Wonderful twist on classic recipe, Great job Kiran….
In b/w trust me I am also on low key with rainy cloudy days….

34 Simply Life October 10, 2011 at 8:27 PM

oh what a beautiful and delicious salad!
Simply Life recently posted..How To Create a Healthy, Inexpensive Comfort Meal: Vegetable Pot Pie

35 carolinaheartstrings October 11, 2011 at 3:28 PM

That looks so fantastic. This is one of my favorite salads! Great picture. We are celebrating our first anniversary today and our first give away. We are so excited. Come over and check it out.
carolinaheartstrings recently posted..IT’S OUR BLOGIVERSARY AND OUR FIRST GIVE AWAY!

36 Rosa October 12, 2011 at 4:57 AM

A great version! That salad looks so pretty and delicious.

Cheers,

Rosa

37 sm October 12, 2011 at 11:19 AM
38 Cinnamon&Thyme October 25, 2011 at 8:25 AM

Looks really delicious!!

39 Kiran October 27, 2011 at 11:04 AM

Ana,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for commenting 🙂

40 Ambika February 6, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Thanks for dropping by Kiran. I absolutely love your blog and photography!!! Wish I had come here earlier, but now I will keep coming back for more!!
Ambika recently posted..Paneer Butter Masala/Paneer Makhani – Some curry basics

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