SHORTY’S PIZZA
3701 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker. 770-414-6999, shortyspizzaatl.com
Q: We recently ate at Shorty's in Tucker. The mozzarella, tomato and herb salad is one of the best things I have tasted. I can't figure out the combination of herbs that they used. I would love to make it at home. Thank you. — Louis Sica, Atlanta
A: Michael Murphy, one of the owners of Shorty's, told us salads are a restaurant specialty and recipes will rotate on and off the menu. This particular salad uses components that the kitchen always has on hand, so if it's not on the menu at the time you visit, just ask and the kitchen can put one together for you. It's their version of a Caprese salad.
The secret to the salad is the “Shorty’s mix” of equal parts parsley, garlic and shallots. It’s a seasoning combination that can be used in any number of ways. Use any leftover mix to season meat or fish before cooking.
Shorty’s Caprese Salad
Hands on: 10 minutes
Total time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Serves: 4
6 roma tomatoes, cored and sliced in half lengthwise
1/2 bunch fresh parsley (about 1/2 cup chopped)
10 cloves garlic
2 small shallots
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
8 ounces buffalo mozzarella, cut into 12 slices
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup basil leaves, slivered
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay tomatoes cut side up on parchment paper and set aside.
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse parsley, garlic and shallots together until finely chopped. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon parsley mixture over each tomato half. Drizzle tomatoes with 6 tablespoons olive oil. Roast tomatoes for 2 hours or until just beginning to caramelize. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
When ready to serve, assemble salads. On 4 serving plates, alternate 3 tomato halves with 3 mozzarella slices. Drizzle with remaining olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and scatter basil over salads. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately.
Per serving: 382 calories (percent of calories from fat, 64), 16 grams protein, 20 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 28 grams fat (11 grams saturated), 51 milligrams cholesterol, 295 milligrams sodium.
