What’s the Story Behind Caprese?

On a hot summer day, most people want to keep their food as light as possible. What can make a light dish even better when temperatures are high is a recipe that doesn’t even require any cooking. There are plenty of dishes you can enjoy during the summer months that won’t feel overwhelming in the heat, but one of the best is Caprese salad. With only a handful of ingredients and some of the best seasonal produce, you can enjoy this delicious dish all summer long. We offer a tomato caprese as a summer appetizer that will be perfect to start off an amazing dinner outside on our beautiful patio. 

Caprese salad is one of the most popular and simplest Italian dishes, but how was it created?

What is Caprese Made From?

For those who might be unfamiliar with the dish, caprese is typically made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. This is also usually topped off with ingredients like salt, balsamic glaze, and olive oil. Since caprese is so simple, the quality of the ingredients really matters. When you only need a few ingredients, you want to make sure they’re the best you can find. At The Beaumont Inn, we use local heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella to create our tomato caprese. 

There are also a few different ways you can change caprese to make it your own. While it’s often served as a salad with alternating slices of tomato, mozzarella, and basil leaves, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can serve caprese on skewers with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls, make a caprese sandwich, mix it with pasta, and more. 

How Was Caprese Invented?

Caprese uses some of the most beloved Italian ingredients, and no matter where you’re having it, you might feel like you’re relaxing in Italy. However, although this dish is simple, it likely doesn’t have the long history that many might expect. 

While there may have been people making dishes similar to caprese years before this, many people give credit to an Italian masonry worker for creating it. According to this story, the masonry worker created the dish in the 1920s, following the end of World War 1. The ingredients were not so much chosen for their taste, although they pair perfectly together, but because of patriotism. With green basil leaves, white tomatoes, and red tomatoes, caprese also serves as a tribute to the Italian flag. In fact, this isn’t the only famous dish that uses the colors of the Italian flag. Margherita pizza is often thought to have been originally made to honor  Margherita of Savoy, Queen of Italy, and the unification of Italy. 

We may think of caprese as a dish that represents Italy as a whole, it’s widely believed to have been invented in Capri, where it’s especially popular and got its name from. Caprese increased in popularity in the 1950s and became a highly requested dish for tourists. There are also rumors that King Farouk of Egypt requested a light afternoon snack and was served the dish. After he loved it, its popularity took off.

Enjoy an Amazing Summer Meal with The Beaumont Inn

There’s nothing better than a meal perfectly curated for the summertime. If you’re looking to enjoy delicious seasonal foods this summer and take in the beauty of the outdoors, The Beaumont Inn is the perfect place. We have a summer menu with something for every, from apps to entrees and drinks to top it all off.

Make reservations to have dinner in Dallas with us before the summer ends!