With only 5 ingredients and less than 30 minutes, you can create a picture-perfect side dish! They look fancy, but are super simple to prepare.

I’ll be honest- it took awhile for me to enjoy fresh tomatoes. Small diced pieces were acceptable, but biting into a fresh tomato with just a bit of salt- NO WAY! Then, I began to add tomato slices to sandwiches and burgers. The true change came after visiting Italy. They just know how to do tomatoes right! Fresh bruschetta with just tomatoes, olive oil, and basil- so simple, but impossible not to enjoy!

Usually reserved for potatoes, I decided to hasselback tomatoes. A whole new world! Once you’re in the know, you can “hasselback” a whole bunch of things- potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, chicken, bread, cantaloupe, apples…

The genius of “hasselbacking,” besides the beauty, is that more surface area = MORE FLAVOR!!!!! Plus, it allows you to stuff something even more delicious inside!

You can also create a raw version, very reminiscent of a caprese salad.

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Ingredients for Hasselback Caprese Tomatoes

• Fresh Tomatoes: Roma or plum tomatoes work well. They have a similar shape to a potato, but really any tomato could work.
• Olive Oil
• Thin Slices of Fresh Mozzarella
• Oregano
• Basil

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What does Hasselback mean?

Most often used with potatoes, it is a method where an item is thinly sliced, but not all the way through. Then, they are stuffed or topped with many delicious flavors!

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Where did Hasselback potatoes come from?

The term comes from Sweden. They are named after the restaurant where they were first served- Hasselbacken.

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Hasselback Cutting Tips

• Use a sharp knife
• Set on top of two wooden spoons or chopsticks
• This ensures the knife will not go all of the way through
• Use your hands to gently press the slices apart
• Use a brush to apply olive oil or butter
• Stuff with cheese, breadcrumbs, bacon, etc.
• Sprinkle with herbs and seasonings

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