Caprese Sandwich with Nut-free Pesto
Here is another quick lunch for anyone who loves all things tomatoes, cheese, and bread!
Soft pillowey mozzarella cheese and juicy tomatoes sandwiched in between toasted baguettes spread with herby pesto. What is there not to like!
Tomatoes are in season! I don't know about you, but tomatoes make the world go round. I can't name one tomato dish that disappoints. Kind of like potatoes, it's good in almost everything! Eating it fresh in a sandwich is no different. The sweet, juiciness of tomatoes marries well with the herby pesto and mozzarella cheese. Caprese sandwich is truly the ultimate summer sandwich.
Caprese sandwich takes me back to Italy, where you could find caprese sandwiches at any gas station or bakery for a quick eat.
My husband and I travelled to Italy last year and along with taking in the sights we took in the food, and a lot of it. It's true when people say the food in Italy is nothing like the Italian food here. Italian food is surprisingly simple, but yet full of so much natural flavor. Like their food, Italians live a simple relaxed life, but they eat good! Even their version of quick eats like a caprese sandwich, isn't typically what we see in the U.S., let alone at gas stations. Italy inspired me to welcome more simple things into my life especially in the kitchen. You'll be seeing more Italian dishes for this reason.
Gather your ingredients
Putting a twist on a traditional pesto with fresh herby parsley, garlic, and EVOO to complement Italian's classic caprese sandwich!
I'm always on a hunt for good eats and alternative options for my husband who has nut and egg allergies. This nut free pesto is bright, herby, and hubby approved. I could technically stick to making the traditional pesto recipe and leave out the pine nuts, but something about using parsley instead is simply exciting and of course delicious!
I originally made caprese sandwich for tailgaiting with my friends. While it was a good idea at first, the sandwich became soggy from the water of mozzarella cheese. I would recommend assembling mozzarella cheese in between the tomatoes to avoid this. They were still delicious, but I think I can speak for everyone when I say no one wants soggy bread. I hope you guys give this a try and enjoy the simplicity of this sandwich as much as I do. Here's to another quick lunch in the books.
Caprese Sandwich
Fresh tomatoes and soft mozzarella cheese sandwiched between toasted baguettes with NUT-free parsley pesto.
Ingredients
- ½ bunch fresh parsley or handful
- ½ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 cloves garlic
- Ciabatta bread
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 heirloom tomato or slicer tomato
- Pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
Pesto
- In a blender, combine fresh parsley, garlic, and olive oil. Pulse and blend for about 3 minutes or until well blended.
Sandwich
- Slice the tomato, soft mozzarella cheese, and set aside. You can slice them to the thickness of your liking.
- Toast 1 side of the ciabatta bread only until golden brown. I toast mine on a cast iron pan or you can toast them in a toaster or toaster oven!
- Once the ciabatta bread is nicely toasted, start assembling the sandwiches by spreading about 2 TBSP of pesto onto the baguette.
- Assemble the sandwich by placing 1 slice tomato and 2 slices mozzarella cheese. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Enjoy!