Crumbed Bocconcini and Grilled Tomato Salad

Thankfully it wasn't my turn to host Christmas dinner this year (or should I say last year...), it was mum and dad's turn. But each family still helps out by contributing a dish and this was mine - Crumbed Bocconcini and Grilled Tomato Salad, a recipe I found in the Woolworths Recipe Magazine.

Those fried bocconcini are deadly! Love that melted oozing cheese. But you must eat this fresh because if you leave it for too long, it's just a bit of a soggy mess. Here is the recipe which I altered slightly.

Ingredients for deep fried cheese
180g bocconcini cheese
1/2 cup plain flour
1 egg, beaten
1 1/3 cup breadcrumbs (or equivalent to 4 slices of bread)
1/3 cup grated parmesan
Canola oil for frying
Ingredients for salad
250g punnet cherry tomatoes
4 thin slices of prosciutto
100g mixed green leaves
Ingredients for dressing
1/2 cup basil leaves, shredded
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon brown sugar

Method
1. Pat bocconcini with paper towel. One by one, dust in flour seasoned with salt and pepper to lightly coat and dip in the egg. Place in a bowl containing combined breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese and roll to coat. Press coating on well. Place on a plate and chill for 30mins.
2. To make Salad: Preheat oven to 180 degrees or 160 degrees fan. Arrange tomatoes cut side up and prosciutto on two baking trays. Bake for 10-15mins, until prosciutto is crisp and tomatoes have collapsed slightly. Break prosciutto into pieces and toss together with green leaves and tomatoes. Set aside.
3. To make Dressing: Whisk together dressing ingredients until combined.
4. Heat enough oil in a frying pan to shallow fry crumbed bocconcini. Fry in 2 batches until crunchy and golden. Drain on paper towels. Scatter bocconcini over salad, toss gently and drizzle over dressing.

Organisation is the key

Patting the cheese dry

Mmmmmm prosciutto

Cherry tomatoes

Dressing

Shallow frying the bocconcini

End result

Here's the rest of the feast our family got to enjoy

Ham and turkey

Singapore noodles

Fried prawns

Fried fish

Potato Bake (whoops, slightly charred but still really good)

Prawn toast

Chhay's Christmas Trifle to round off the meal