Recipe: Caprese Melon & Heirloom Tomato Salad

A very special privilege at ToFoodies is that we get to experience restaurants before they open and sample food products before they hits the shelves. Getting a first look (and taste!) of a product is truly an honor, so when Kensington Market Street Food came to ToFoodies with their first line of products, I was very thrilled to try them out in my own kitchen. First off the packaging is so fun; the jars, bottles, etc. jump out when they are on my dinner table or give me a sultry look from the fridge.  Second, thirdly, and fourthly, not only are there tons of unique flavour combinations to be discovered here, but I was very pleased to learn how all ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible and everything is manufactured in Ontario.

The inspirations behind the products themselves are as hyper-local as can be to Toronto's famed Kensington Market. As someone who once lived at Spadina & Nassau - I don't take Kensington Market name-asserting likely! But scratch the surface of Andrew Menceles- founder of KMSF- and you'll find a very rich history!  Kensington Market Street Food products were created to pay homage to Andrew’s childhood growing up in the Kensington Market neighbourhood, down to the last detail with a picture of his parents nestled into the main packaging. The parents owned Fortune Housewares on Spadina Road for 50 years, a fixture of its time for the local culinary community. As we all know today, Kensington Market is still a beautiful mosaic of cultures and the diversity of food is both a major draw and welcome entry point for everyday Torontonians to try new tastes.

So! Below you'll find a brand new recipe for Caprese Melon & Heirloom Tomato Salad. We nestled the Kensington Street Food Sweet & Sour Crunchy Pickled Cantaloupe in between layers of the classic Italian starter salad, and the result is a punch of crunch and spiced sweetness flavour where you least expect it. Such is the ethos of Kensington Street Food. And to really take it to a new level of flavourtown, get an extra zing from the brand's Smoked Tomato vinaigrette dressing! But just 'cause I had so much dressing goodness at my disposal, I had to take some pictures of the bold Spicy Mexican Adobo and Caesar Sriracha bottles, too (above and below). Smoked Tomato was my favourite for this combo salad, but decide for yourself!!?
Make it your own and at home, because Kensington Market Street Food products can now be found at Longo’s and independent grocers across Ontario! Check out the whole line at kensingtonmarketfoods.com and follow @kensingtonmarketfoods on Instagram and Facebook! #eatkmstreetfood

caprese Melon & Heirloom Tomato SALAD

with Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette

Ingredients: 

• 3-4 large heirloom tomatoes, as many different colours as possible

• 1 cup of Kensington Market Street Food Sweet & Sour Crunchy Pickled Cantaloupe

• 1 bunch of basil

• TT salt & pepper

• TT Kensington Market Street Food Smoked Tomato Dressing

Method: 

1. Slice tomatoes to 1/2 inch thickness

2. Slice mozzarella cheese to a 1/2 inch thick rounds

3. Delicately pick off the basil leaves from the stalk and set aside

4. Option: trim off any sharp angles of the Kensington Market Street Food Sweet & Sour Crunchy Pickled Cantaloupe

5. Assemble the salad in a straight line by beginning with one coloured heirloom tomato slice, followed by a mozzarella slice, followed by a pickled cantelope slice, followed by a leaf of basil. Repeat the process, while changing up the colour of the tomato

6. Drizzle Kensington Market Street Food Smoked Tomato Dressing on the plate, or over the salad or serve on the side

7. To finish it off, add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to your tastes

8. Enjoy!

Serves 2 adults for dinner or 4 adults as a starter

In partnership with Kensington Market Street Foods.