Summer Salad (Insalata Estiva)

From Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions by Rosanne Bowles
Serves 4 to 6

This salad is a perfect summer dish to serve with simple pasta dressed with tomato sauce. The toasted pine nuts offer a lovely buttery, nutty flavor, not too heavy for a summer meal. The fresh mozzarella, with its soft, delicate texture, contrasts beautifully with the spicy bite of arugula to make a perfect second plate for a hot summer night.

1 bunch arugula
½ cup (60 g) pine nuts
¾ pound (340 g) fresh mozzarella in small balls
¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt

Preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C) (Gas mark 2). Wash the arugula well to remove all sand and dirt. Spin or gently pat dry and set aside in a large bowl. Put the pine nuts on a baking sheet and toast for about 10 minutes, watching closely so they do not burn, until lightly browned. Let cool.

Add the mozzarella and pine nuts to the arugula and drizzle with the oil. Toss the salad so that all the ingredients are lightly coated with oil, then season lightly with salt to taste. Serve immediately.