Ingredients

Tomatoes

• 6 large round vine ripened tomatoes (try to choose flat bottomed ones or trim the bottom so that they can stand on their the own)
• 500g fresh buffalo mozzarella, sliced into 18 round slices
• 18 large basil leaves
• 1 clove garlic crushed (optional)
• Maldon salt and freshly ground pepper

To Serve

• 3 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoon pine nuts. Toasted
• 8 pieces of small basil leaves

Method

1. Remove the pith with a small knife.
2. Slice the tomato horizontally into 4 even slices and rub a little garlic and seasoning into each slice. Make sure you keep the slices together in the order they were cut.
3. Reassemble the tomatoes to their original shape on 6 serving plates by placing a basil leaf and a slice of mozzarella between each slice.