Sometimes in the middle of the night I’ll sneak out of bed into the darkened kitchen, open up the fridge and stand in the light of the refrigerator while I contemplate snacks to sate my hunger. Cheese has always got my back – its versatility is second to none. For a treat, I’ll melt it between two golden brown buttered crispy pieces of bread. If I want to make it even more indulgent, I’ll add sweet juicy tomatoes and fresh basil to bring the whole thing over the top. A caprese grilled cheese is always a good thing in my books.
The simplicity of a good caprese salad is a thing of beauty on its own – who doesn’t love perfectly ruby red vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh creamy Canadian mozzarella, and fragrant basil? Taking the ingredients and tucking them into a grilled cheese is, dare I say, even better? The mozzarella melts into a creamy, gooey mess. A bit of heat causes the tomatoes release even more of their sweet juiciness and the basil flavor becomes even more prominent when next to crunchy, golden brown toast. I make these caprese grilled cheeses a lot – as midnight snacks, as a stand in for dinner, or as hors d’oeuvres at cocktail parties.
