Baked Caprese Salad

Ingredients

• 1 loaf baguette, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices (about 30 to 36 slices)
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 5 Roma tomatoes, sliced
• 1 1/4 pounds fresh mozzarella, sliced
• 1 bunch fresh basil leaves, stemmed

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Arrange the sliced baguette bread on a baking sheet. Brush with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven. Top each slice of bread with a slice of tomato and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each slice of tomato with a slice of mozzarella and sprinkle with salt. Return the baking sheet to the oven until the cheese and tomato are warmed, about 5 minutes.

Arrange the toasts on a serving platter. Top each toast with a basil leaf. Using the brush, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the basil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve.