Stacked Tomato Salad with Black Olive Tapenade and Basil Pesto Dressing

Stacked Tomato Salad with Black Olive Tapenade and Basil Pesto Dressing is a twist on classic Caprese salad.  It’s easy, impressive and the perfect way to showcase fresh tomatoes!

The inspiration behind this recipe:

Few things get me more excited in the summertime than being able to pick our own homegrown tomatoes!  I’m a tomato fanatic to begin with and seldom go a day without something tomatoey.

I’m also a Caprese salad fanatic and it’s one of our go-to’s around our house during the summer.   So, when I found this recipe from Bobby Flay in an old 2004 edition of Bon Appetit magazine, it immediately went on my must-make list.

Tapenade is also a passion of ours.  The first time I ever had it was in Paris around 20 years ago.  My husband and I loved it so much, we bought ten jars of it to bring home!  Little did I know at the time how easy it is to make at home!

What is tapenade?

Tapenade is a Provencal spread or dip typically made with olives, capers and anchovies.  Sometimes fresh herbs or lemon juice are added.  The word tapenade comes from the Provencal word for capers, tapenas.  However, Bobby’s recipe didn’t include capers so I just had to trust him.  You can add them if you want just to be traditional, but we enjoyed the tapenade without.

How to make Stacked Tomato Salad with Black Olive Tapenade and Basil Pesto Dressing:

• Start with four beautiful, vine-ripened backyard or farmer’s market tomatoes.

• Make the Black Olive Tapenade.  This recipe calls for only a few ingredients:
  • Olive oil
  • Kalamata olives (can also use Nicoise but Kalamata olives are more readily available)
  • Pine Nuts
  • Anchovy paste (Comes in a tube and is a nice alternative to purchasing a small container of anchovies because it will last in your refrigerator for quite a while.  If you have a fish allergy or don’t care for anchovies, use 3 tablespoons of rinsed capers in place of the anchovy paste.)
  • Garlic

• Simply combine all the ingredients in a small food processor or blender and you’re ready to roll!  The olives and anchovy paste are plenty salty so no additional salt is needed.  I did, however, give it some freshly cracked black pepper.  Sooo good!

• Next, make the Basil Pesto Dressing.  The ingredients are:
  • Fresh basil
  • Lemon juice
  • Dijon mustard
  • Pine nuts
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

• Combine everything but the olive oil in a food processor or blender and process until everything is finely chopped.
• Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while continuing to process.  Give it some salt and black pepper to taste and voila!

• The only other ingredient you’ll need is fresh mozzarella.  I purchase the pre-sliced fresh mozzarella in 1-pound packages from Bel Giosioso which is made in my home state of Wisconsin.
• Then, slice four beautiful vine-ripened tomatoes into four slices each.
• You’ll have 16 slices but will only need 15 to make five stacks.  Select the prettiest ones and make a tomato sandwich with the remaining slice.  Or, be like Bobby and dice up any remainder and sprinkle around the stacks.

• Start the layering process.  Layer as follows:
  • Tomato slice
  • Tapenade
  • Fresh mozzarella
  • Tomato slice
  • Tapenade
  • Fresh mozzarella
  • Tomato slice

• Place the stacks on a serving platter and give them a good dose of freshly cracked black pepper.
• Garnish with fresh basil leaves…

Voila!  Super easy, impressive and they shout summer!

Enjoy!

More tomato recipes you’ll love!

• Easy Fresh Tomato Salad
• Tuscan Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad
• Roasted Cherry Tomato Tart with Herbed Ricotta
• Mini Southern Tomato Pies
• Tomato and Corn Pie with Fresh Basil
• Tomato Ricotta Tart with Fresh Basil

Helpful tools and equipment (Affiliate Links):

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Continue to Content

Yield: 5

Stacked Tomato Salad with Black Olive Tapenade and Basil Pesto Dressing

Print

Stacked Tomato Salad with Tapenade and Basil Pesto Dressing is a twist on classic Caprese salad.  It's easy, impressive and the perfect way to showcase fresh tomatoes!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• BLACK OLIVE TAPENADE
• 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives (firmly packed)
• 2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 1 heaping tablespoon pine nuts
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• BASIL PESTO DRESSING
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves (firmly packed)
• 2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• STACKS
• 4 large tomatoes, each sliced into 4 even slices
• 1 (16-ounce) package fresh sliced mozzarella such as BelGioioso
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. BLACK OLIVE TAPENADE: Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl and wash out the blender or food processor bowl. Refrigerate until needed. (Can be made up to 2 days ahead.)
2. BASIL PESTO DRESSING: Combine the basil, garlic, lemon juice, pine nuts and Dijon mustard in a food processor or blender. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
3. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
4. STACKS: Place 1 tomato slice on each of 5 plates. (Alternately, arrange on a platter.)
5. Top with a tablespoon of the tapenade.
6. Top with a slice of fresh mozzarella. Repeat layering, finishing each stack with a slice of tomato. (You will have a slice left to enjoy another way.)
7. Spoon some of the dressing over each stack and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.

Notes

MAKE AHEAD: The tapenade can be made 2 days ahead. The basil pesto dressing is best fresh, but can be done a day ahead and refrigerated. Let the basil pesto dressing come to room temperature before serving.

SUBSTITUTIONS: If anchovies are objectionable in any way, use 3 tablespoons drained capers in place of the anchovies.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

5

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 639Total Fat: 66gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 53gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 586mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 6g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram