We are very lucky in Australia with the quality of our local produce. It does rank as some of the best in the world. Since 1999 the Australian Dairy industry has paid homage yearly to our best diary produce.
The Australian Grand Dairy Awards are the most prestigious national awards in recognising our local diary producers. Recognition for their hard work, their achievements and of course the amazing products they create.
Recently I was sent some of this year’s award winning products to try. Which resulted in my recipe for tomato, mozzarella, basil salad. Not that you could really call it a recipe.
As expected the products I tried were fantastic. The winners were a combination of some of the big guys in the industry and smaller producers.
So what did I think of the items I was sent to sample?
Heidi Farm Raclette (Champion Semi-Hard & Eye Cheese). It was great to see that Heidi Farm winning again. I shared a recipe using their product a few years ago. It’s still a great raclette.
Norco Real Iced Chocolate Ultimate (Champion Flavoured Dairy Drink). Great chocolate flavour, I really enjoyed this flavoured milk. I have been looking for it ever since with no luck!!
Western Star Original Butter (Campion Butter or Butter Blend). To be honest I’m not sure why this butter won, don’t get me wrong it’s a great product. I use it (as well as other butters) for baking and cooking, but not for general consumption. For simply slathering on bread I prefer Pepe Sayer, which is an amazing cultured butter made in Sydney.
Bannister Downs Double Cream (Champion Cream). What an outstanding cream! This fresh cream has a natural sweetness and is the thickest cream I have seen on the Australian market. It is seriously thick! I adored the product so much that I whipped up a batch of my favourite scones and made some strawberry jam.
Montefiore Trecce (Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese). Simply beautiful plaited mozzarella. Delicate with a sweet milky taste, I would have been happy to just eat it as is, nothing else.
I wanted to share a recipe with you using Montefiore Trecce, which didn’t take away from its delicate texture or taste. This mozzarella would be perfect on a simple pizza. I can vouch that it is, as we did make some using it. Perfect for a variety of dishes, but I felt best used with seasonal tomatoes and fresh basil.
Really this isn’t a recipe at all. It is a combination of beautiful Australian produce, simply put together and designed for those consuming it to appreciate those ingredients.
You could call it a caprese salad, but some caprese salads are made with onion, capers, and additional vinegar on top of the balsamic. That would be over kill for the delicate flavours of the Montefiore Trecce.
Along with the tomatoes and freshly torn basil I simply added a sprinkle of my favourite Australian sea salt, a drizzle of Australian olive oil and a splash of an Australian Vino Cotto. The vino cotto was a far better match than a more vinegary balsamic. Plus it rounded my ingredients out to make this a totally Australian dish.
Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil Salad
Ingredients
- 1 punnet small truss tomatoes
- 1 portion Montefiore Trecce
- 1/2 bunch basil
- olive oil
- vino cotto
- sea salt
- crusty bread to serve
Instructions
- Slice tomatoes and place on a serving plate. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste
- Tear bite size pieces from the Montefiore Trecce and scatter over the tomatoes.
- Tear basil leaves and scatter over tomatoes and mozzarella.
- Drizzle olive oil and vino cotto over the salad and serve immediately.
- Serve with crusty bread and enjoy!
I am a big believer in good quality ingredients, served without stress and with simplicity. Allowing the seasonal and beautiful local products to shine. This would be one of my favourite dishes that I prepare regularly for lunch. Definitely beats a salad sandwich any day!
Sara xxx
To find out more about the dairy awards, to discover some amazing Australian dairy products and producers, or to learn more about dairy products, head to www.legendairy.com.au
Belly Rumbles would like to acknowledge its partnership the Australian Grand Dairy Awards for this post. This recipe was created, developed and photographed by Sara McCleary.
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Karly
One of my all time faves!! So often a tomato mozz salad gets overlooked, but I think it’s the perfect light and savory bite for summertime. Pinning now!
Paul
I love making this salad, actually I think I’m going to make it now!
Anna @ shenANNAgans
This salad is one of my most favourite, so simple yet incredibly satisfying. I just went through Cyclone Debbie so am finding that many fruit and vegetables are selling at a higher price – tomatoes in particular, its cheaper to buy mozzarella. Anyways, you’ve inspired me, this taste I will experience again soon.
Tina Dawson | Love is in my Tummy
I’ve only had a fresh mozzarella salad once and it was amazing! I can still ‘taste’ it in my mind. I’ll be trying this soon!
Diana
You just put all of my favourite ingredients in one recipe! And these three go so well together, tomato with nail and mozzarella. YUM!
Platter Talk
There is nothing like fresh mozzarella in this wonderful salad! A taste of spring, for sure.
Shashi at Savory Spin
I’m so jelly over here in Atlanta, GA USA! What a fantastic plethora of winning goodies you got to try – I wish I could say I’ve seen of heard of these but albeit I haven’t 🙁 I so wish that Norco Real Iced Chocolate Ultimate (Champion Flavoured Dairy Drink) was available here! And, you have put that Montefiore Trecce to such good use – this salad sounds so delicious!
linda spiker
Incredibly beautiful salad! And so simple. That mozzarella is making me swoon!
linda spiker
Beautiful simple salad!
mercia
Looks very nice and eye catching, I’ll have to do it right away
Thank you for sharing!!
The Hungry Mum
This is the prettiest salad I have seen in ages. I recall drinking Norco chocolate milk as a kid, when we would holiday down the south coast. Haven`t had one in decades! I agree RE the butter – Pepe is the bee`s knees.
Lana_SHON
Very tasty! Thanks.
Sarah
What a simple and light dish, I bet it would be delicious on a warm summer day! Can’t wait to try!
Lucy @ Supergoldenbakes
Simplicity is often the best way to go with quality ingredients. It may be a classic combination, but it’s still brilliant.
Corina
Such a beautifully simple recipe! You’re right that with the right products you really can make something amazing out of simple but good quality ingredients!
Pretty
I am so jealous! That mozzarella looks amazing. It’s important to keep the recipe simple when the produces are so good.
Helene D'Souza
That’s one of my favorite salads to make whenever I am craving food. As teenagers we would go out to the apres ski parties and come back home at around midnight and make this. ^.^ It was our after party food.