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This Dark Chocolate Balsamic Caprese Salad is an amazing twist on the traditional Caprese Salad. Heirloom tomatoes, arugula, burrata, and pepitas drizzled with dark chocolate balsamic reduction makes this a refreshing change to the classic flavor combo!
This Dark Chocolate Balsamic Caprese Salad is an amazing twist on the traditional Caprese Salad. Heirloom tomatoes, arugula, burrata, and pepitas drizzled with dark chocolate balsamic reduction makes this a refreshing change to the classic flavor combo!Going to the farmers market each week and being inspired by what is in season at the moment is something I will never tire of. Listening to the musicians while strolling through the aisles of booths. Smelling the sweet aroma of the fresh produce, and local fare. There really is no experience like it.
Am I the only one who gets heart palpitations when offered twelve varieties of locally grown, fresh picked apples? Anyone else?
This week as I meandered through the crowds, some gorgeous heirloom tomatoes caught my eye in all their seasonally ripe glory. Thus, Dark Chocolate Balsamic Caprese Salad was born. I want you to imagine juicy ripe heirloom tomatoes, peppery arugula, creamy burrata, and nutty pepitas all drizzled with a divine dark chocolate balsamic reduction and topped with dark chocolate curls. Is your mouth watering yet? Because mine sure is and I already ate this salad for three days in a row and LOVED. EVERY. BITE.
Now I know there are a lot of food purists out there who will say this is a travesty; the adulteration of the Caprese Salad. Well, the good news is that according to Google there are exactly 82 traditional “Best Caprese Salad” recipes on Pinterest in 2018. So you should be set.
Today in honor of #choctoberfest week, I decided to pair Forte’s Fireweed Honey in Dark Chocolate Gusto Bar with balsamic vinegar for a tangy-sweet twist on the classic balsamic reduction. The result? Pure bliss. Seriously, if you’ve never tried dark chocolate with balsamic vinegar, you don’t know what you are missing!
Chocolate and I have a love hate relationship. I love how it tastes, yet hate that I can’t stop eating it!! Forte Chocolate’s is an international award winning chocolate company that makes the most amazing luxury artisan chocolates and caramels. They are known for their luxuriously rich and silky smooth chocolate, all hand-crafted by the owner and Master Chocolatier, Karen Neugebauer. Their chocolate bars are so versatile and are perfect in both sweet and savory dishes!
Forte Chocolate’s motto is “Celebrate Life Through Chocolate”, which I’m considering adapting to my own personal motto. Anyone with me? They are one of the generous sponsors hosting our giveaway for #choctoberfest this week, so make sure you enter the raffle at the end of this post for a chance to win some of their fabulous luxury chocolate! Also, as a gift to all readers you can use the coupon code CHOCTOBERFEST2018 for a buy 3 get 1 free discount on all of their bars. High five!
Now here’s how this Dark Chocolate Balsamic Caprese Salad magic happens. It’s really quite simple.
First, you start by making the balsamic reduction, which only requires three ingredients: balsamic vinegar, honey and Forte Chocolate’s Fireweed Honey in Dark Chocolate Gusto Bar. Heat the vinegar and honey on the stovetop over medium heat for thirty minutes until it has reduced in quantity and thickened. Add half of the chocolate bar (finely chopped) and stir into the balsamic reduction until completely melted. Viola!
Second, while the balsamic vinegar is simmering to make your reduction, make the chocolate curls. This is optional and you can just add chopped chocolate on top of the salad if you like, however it adds a really nice touch and I just love the taste chocolate curls – they are so much lighter in texture! I watched this awesome tutorial on how to make the curls and it was SO helpful.
Next, layer the salad ingredients starting with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on the plate followed by heirloom tomatoes, baby arugula, burrata, and pepitas.
Finally, the pièce de résistance – a drizzle of the dark chocolate balsamic reduction toped with dark chocolate curls. Ta da! Perfection.
Also, don’t forget to enter the raffle below for our massive #choctoberfest giveaway! You can see more details here.
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Also, don’t forget to enter the raffle below for our massive #choctoberfest giveaway! You can see more details Dark Chocolate Balsamic Caprese Salad
This Dark Chocolate Balsamic Caprese Salad is an amazing twist on the traditional Caprese Salad. Heirloom tomatoes, arugula, burrata, and pepitas drizzled with dark chocolate balsamic reduction makes this a refreshing change to the classic flavor combo!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 3-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Dark Chocolate Balsamic Reduction
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 Forte Chocolate’s Fireweed Honey in Dark Chocolate Gusto Bar
Dark Chocolate Curls
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 of Forte Chocolate’s Fireweed Honey in Dark Chocolate Gusto Bar
- 1 tablespoon Crisco or shortening
Salad Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 3-4 ripe heirloom tomatoes (I like a variety of color – orange, yellow, red, green, etc.)
- 1 package baby arugula
- 1-2 packages burrata (depending on how many salads you are trying to make)
- raw pepitas
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Start making the balsamic reduction by adding vinegar and honey to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer over medium low until it has reduced to about half of it’s original volume and thickened like syrup. Takes about 30 minutes.
- White the reduction is simmering, make your chocolate curls. Heat dark chocolate chips in the microwave at 30-60 second intervals, stirring in-between. Once melted at the other half of the Forte Dark chocolate bar (chopped finely) and stir briskly to melt completely. Add in the crisco.
- Place a cookie sheet in the fridge for one minute, then remove, turn pan over (upside down) and spread a think layer of the chocolate evenly over the entire surface of the bottom of the pan.
- Let cool and once you can touch it with your finger and it leaves a fingerprint (not hard but not soft) then you are ready to make your curls. Using a flat, metal surface (spatula, cake scraper, clean putty scraper) push down (firmly) at a 45 degree angle and continue to push forward to curl your chocolate. Play around and have fun trying out your favorite style (thick, thin, large, small, etc.).
- Now to layer the salad. Start by drizzling your plate with some extra virgin olive oil and some of the balsamic reduction.
- Next, arrange thick slices of your heirloom tomatoes in a circle. Top the center of the circle with a handful of baby arugula and right on top of that place your burrata.
- Sprinkle the entire salad with pepitas and drizzle more dark chocolate balsamic reduction on top.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
Substitutions: If you are not a fan of burrata or have a hard time finding it in your local grocery store, you can also just use the traditional fresh mozzarella. Also instead of pepitas you can use toasted pine nuts, and if you don’t like peppery arugula use spinach or another green of choice.
Check out these other awesome #choctoberfest recipes from today!
How many ounces of chocolate do you add to the balsamic reduction? Or, how many ounces of chocolate in one Forte bar? I have several craft dark chocolate bars already at home. I’m sure they will work ok.
These photos make me want to run out and buy tomatoes to make this tonight!
Thank you! The food did all the work!