Vegan Roasted Tomato Caprese Towers
Elegant stacked towers of roasted heirloom tomatoes, creamy cashew mozzarella, and fresh basil — drizzled with balsamic glaze. A stunning plant-based take on the Italian classic.
Servings – 4
Ingredients
- 4 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes
- 1 cups raw cashews (soaked 4 hrs, drained)
- 0.3 cups water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 0.8 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoons agar-agar powder
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (for roasting)
- 0.5 cups fresh basil leaves
- 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- 0.5 teaspoons sea salt flakes
- 0.5 teaspoons black pepper, freshly cracked
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts (toasted, optional)
- 1 tablespoons fresh chives (for garnish)
Steps
1. Soak the cashews: Place 1 cups raw cashews (soaked 4 hrs, drained) in a bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for at least 240 minutes 240:00 (or overnight). Drain and rinse thoroughly before using.
2. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
3. Roast the tomatoes: Slice 4 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes into thick rounds (about 1.5 cm each). Arrange on the baking tray, drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil (for roasting), and season with 0.5 teaspoons sea salt flakes and 0.5 teaspoons black pepper, freshly cracked. Roast until caramelized and slightly shrunken but still holding their shape.
4. Blend the cashew mozzarella: Add the soaked cashews, 0.3 cups water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, and 0.8 teaspoons salt to a high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy with no lumps — about 2 minutes 02:00.
5. Set the mozzarella: Pour the blended mixture into a small saucepan. Whisk in 1 teaspoons agar-agar powder and heat over medium, stirring constantly until it bubbles and thickens slightly (about 3–60 minutes 60:00). Pour into a lightly oiled round mold or small glasses and refrigerate until firm.
6. Toast the pine nuts: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast 2 tablespoons pine nuts (toasted, optional) for 2–3 minutes 03:00, stirring often until golden. Set aside to cool.
7. Unmold the mozzarella: Once the cashew mozzarella is firm, gently unmold and slice into rounds roughly the same diameter as your tomato slices.
8. Assemble the towers: On each plate, layer: one roasted tomato slice → one cashew mozzarella round → a few 0.5 cups fresh basil leaves leaves. Repeat layers 2–3 times to build the tower. Press gently to secure.
9. Garnish & serve: Drizzle generously with 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze, scatter toasted 2 tablespoons pine nuts (toasted, optional) and 1 tablespoons fresh chives (for garnish) over the top. Finish with a pinch of 0.5 teaspoons sea salt flakes and a crack of 0.5 teaspoons black pepper, freshly cracked. Serve immediately while tomatoes are still warm.
Notes
Tips & Variations:
- 🍅 Best tomatoes: Heirloom, beefsteak, or Roma work best. Avoid watery varieties.
- 🥛 Shortcut: Skip agar-agar for a softer, spreadable cashew cream — still delicious!
- 🌿 Herb swap: Try fresh mint or micro-greens instead of basil.
- 🧄 Roasted garlic: Add roasted garlic cloves between layers for extra depth.
- 🫙 Make ahead: Cashew mozzarella keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- 🌡️ Serving: Best served with warm roasted tomatoes and chilled mozzarella for contrast.
🥗 Nutrition Facts (per serving, approx.): | Nutrient | Amount | |———-|——–| | Calories | ~320 kcal | | Protein | 9 g | | Carbohydrates | 22 g | | Dietary Fiber | 4 g | | Sugars | 9 g | | Total Fat | 23 g | | Saturated Fat | 4 g | | Sodium | 380 mg | | Vitamin C | 35% DV | | Calcium | 6% DV | | Iron | 15% DV | | Magnesium | 18% DV |
💚 Health Benefits:
- 🍅 Lycopene-rich tomatoes — A powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and reduced cancer risk, especially enhanced by roasting.
- 🥜 Cashews — Provide heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, magnesium for muscle function, and plant-based protein.
- 🌿 Fresh basil — Rich in vitamin K, anti-inflammatory compounds, and essential oils that support immunity.
- 🫒 Olive oil — High in oleocanthal, a natural anti-inflammatory, and supports brain and cardiovascular health.
- 🍇 Balsamic glaze — Contains acetic acid which may help regulate blood sugar, plus antioxidants from grape polyphenols.
- 🌾 Nutritional yeast — An excellent source of B-vitamins (including B12 in fortified versions), zinc, and complete protein.
- 🌱 100% Vegan & Dairy-Free — Ideal for those with lactose intolerance or following a plant-based lifestyle.
A few highlights about this dish:
- The star ingredient is the cashew mozzarella — it mimics the creamy, mild flavour of traditional buffalo mozzarella beautifully, and the agar-agar gives it that satisfying sliceable texture.
- Roasting the tomatoes is the key technique here — it concentrates their natural sweetness and adds a caramelized depth that raw tomatoes simply can’t match.
- Nutrition-wise, this is a powerhouse plate — loaded with lycopene, healthy fats, plant protein, and a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, all around 320 kcal per serving.
