Herb-Baked Caprese Tomato Stacks

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 3 medium tomatoes
• cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 1/4-inch-thick slices fresh mozzarella
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs (see page 196)
• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
• melted

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425F.
2. Coat a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
3. Arrange one layer of tomatoes (do not overlap) in the bottom of the casserole dish.
4. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper.
5. Put a slice of fresh mozzarella on top of each tomato, then top each with basil.
6. Top each stack with another slice of tomato, and season with salt and pepper.
7. Combine the bread crumbs and butter in a small bowl.
8. Sprinkle the crumbs over the stacks.
9. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until the tomatoes are heated through, the bread crumbs are lightly browned, and the mozzarella just starts to melt.
10. Serve hot.
11. Vegetarian friendly!