Caprese

Prepare the ingredients according to the list. It's recommended to take the mozzarella cheese out of the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before slicing. Take the mozzarella cheese ball out of the marinade and slice it into thick rounds. Avoid slicing it too thinly, or the cheese may break apart when assembling the salad.

Rinse the tomatoes and slice them into rounds of uniform thickness as well.

Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices in a circular pattern on a flat plate, alternating between the components. Sprinkle them with ground black pepper.

Rinse the basil leaves, pat them dry slightly with a towel, and place them in the blender. Leave some whole basil leaves for garnish. Peel the garlic clove and add it to the blender. Pour in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar (1 teaspoon). Add some salt.

Thoroughly blend the ingredients in the blender until you achieve a smooth sauce. If needed, you can add more olive oil to adjust the sauce's thickness to your liking. This sauce can also be prepared using a mortar and pestle by carefully grinding all the ingredients together.

Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices on a plate, spoon the sauce over them, and garnish with fresh basil leaves. The salad is ready to be served. If desired, you can chill it in the refrigerator for a bit before serving to keep it fresh. Enjoy your meal!