The classic summer combination of tomatoes and mozzarella should be avoided if you are on a diet, or particular diseases, let’s see in detail.
Eating tomatoes and mozzarella, a classic combination known as caprese salad, is not recommended for those on a diet. This very popular and well-known recipe is very caloric therefore not suitable for those who want to lose weight. Although many believe that it is a light summer dish, in reality the mozzarella and tomato salad is a mix rich in calories. To know everything about the caprese, I suggest you read carefully below.
Tomatoes and mozzarella
The famous caprese, a salad composed essentially of tomatoes and mozzarella, and a few other condiments, is one of the traditional dishes of Italian cuisine. To make a perfect Caprese salad, it is very important to choose all products of great quality.
A good plate of tomato and mozzarella, a traditional dish of the Mediterranean diet, should always be prepared using excellent and fresh ingredients. This appetizer or summer side dish should be made using turgid tomatoes and well-drained buffalo mozzarella.
Tomatoes are rich in beneficial substances and vitamins, while mozzarella is rich in calcium. It is a typical Campania appetizer, which consists of combining the fiascone tomato with mozzarella, basil, dried oregano, olive oil and a pinch of salt.
The Caprese salad, born according to legend on the island of Capri, is a very quick recipe to make. It seems that this dish was prepared in the twenties, by a chef from Capri for the futurist Marinetti who was not very fond of pasta. According to another theory, this tomato and mozzarella salad was born from the work of a bricklayer after World War II, who stuffed his sandwich with three ingredients with a patriotic color.
Nutritional values of caprese
As for the nutritional values of the Caprese salad, a recipe with patriotic colors, they are linked to the few ingredients that compose it. Although it is a very simple dish made from few ingredients, it is rich in nutritional values.
It must be said that tomatoes are rich in mineral salts, vitamins and fiber. Mozzarella is an excellent source of protein, which contains fat, carbohydrates and calcium. Olive oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and basil in addition to containing mineral salts and vitamins is rich in beneficial natural antioxidants.
It can be said that a dish of Caprese salad provides over four hundred calories, so you should not overdo it. It is certainly a very tasty dish, but like any combination you must be careful not to consume it too often. The Caprese salad has originated many other dishes, such as chicken, pizza or cold pasta alla caprese, all recipes based on tomato, mozzarella and basil.
Who is caprese not recommended for?
Caprese is a very popular appetizer from Campania but eaten in the summer months. However, it must be said that this recipe is not recommended in some cases. Although it is a tasty and fresh recipe, caprese is not exactly a low-calorie recipe.
Buffalo mozzarella has a lot of calories, so you could replace it with another lighter cheese, and you should also limit the oil. So if you are following a weight loss diet you should not consume this recipe very frequently.
It should be noted that the combination of tomato, which is an acidic food, with mozzarella, which is instead basic, could be difficult to digest. Those who suffer from digestive problems may have some difficulties and some ailments after consuming caprese. Even those who suffer from reflux or gastritis should avoid this salad.
In addition, it seems that the two ingredients are rich in sugar, so it is not recommended even for diabetics. It can be said that in a moderate way and not too often, even diabetics can consume caprese. To avoid taking in too many calories and too much sugar, you can replace buffalo mozzarella with a light mozzarella. Finally, if you don’t want to give up caprese, you can make many equally tasty and fresh variations.
