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Food & Wine Recipe

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with Frozen Balsamic Vinaigrette

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME: 20 MIN plus 1 1/2 hr freezing
  • SERVINGS: 6
  • •VEGETARIAN

At Bouchée in Carmel, California, Walter Manzke tops his unconventional tomato, mozzarella and watermelon salad with scrapings of tangy balsamic granita.

  1. 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
  2. 2 tablespoons water
  3. 2 pounds assorted tomatoes, including halved cherry, pear or grape tomatoes and large tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
  4. 1 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced 1/4 inch thick
  5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  6. 1 cup seedless watermelon cubes
  7. 1/2 cup coarsely chopped basil
  8. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  1. In an 8-inch-square glass baking dish, mix the balsamic vinegar and water. Freeze, stirring every 20 minutes with a fork, until the crystals are no longer slushy, about 1 1/2 hours.
  2. On a large platter, arrange the sliced tomatoes and mozzarella in a slightly overlapping circle; season with salt and pepper. Scatter the cherry tomato halves, watermelon cubes and basil on top and drizzle with the olive oil. Scrape the granita over the salad with a fork, and serve.
Make Ahead The balsamic granita can be frozen for up to 3 days.