Summery Salad with Vastedda del Belice cheese

Introduction

'INSALATA CA VASTEDDA DU BELICE' The Vastedda of Belice Valley is a very ancient typical Sicilian cheese and it is the only stretched-curd cheese obtained exclusively from sheep's milk cheese.
A Sicilian cheese maker made the first small wheel of Vastedda cheese a very long time ago and almost by mistake. It seems that the cheese paste was placed in one of those small cane baskets, but when it started getting acid the cheese maker placed it into hot water, following the same cheese making process used for ricotta cheese. The cheese paste started stretching and assuming a flat shape, that characterises the vastedda cheese.

The Vastedda del Belice has obtained the POD Protected Origin Denomination by the EU, it represents a Slow Food Praesidium and is protected by its own Consortium. 

Appearance: The Vastedda del Belice looks like a cheese loaf, it is sweet, fresh and pleasant, with lightly acid hints. 

Tasting notes: The best way to taste it is served if cut in big slices and enriched with extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes and oregano, together with a slice of homemade bread. 
It can be also used to make a delicious 'pane cunzatu' (stuffed bread, typical in Sicily), or in more complex recipes as fine 'risotti'.
We here introduce a fresh and light salad, that exalts the taste of Vastedda cheese, pairing it with other fresh ingredients.

Ingredients

1 Vastedda del Belice Cheese; 6 tomatoes for salad; a large handful of capers in salt; fresh basil; extra virgin olive oil; wine vinegar; salt.