Christmas tree salad

Ingredients:

1/2 small red pepper, seedless
Romaine lettuce: leaves separated, washed, dried
1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil
220 g of small balls of mozzarella cheese, drained
250 g of cherry tomatoes

For the basil pesto sauce:

1 cup fresh basil leaves
40 g (1/2 cup) grated parmesan cheese
45 g (1/4 cup) pine nuts, toasted
1 clove of garlic, chopped
80 ml (1/3 cup) olive oil

Instructions:

1. Preparation of pesto sauce: grind basil, parmesan, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor. Add olive oil while whisking.
2. Using a cookie cutter, cut a star out of the red pepper. Also cut a 6 cm rectangle - the "base" of the Christmas tree.
3. Arrange the lettuce leaves on a plate and create the shape of a Christmas tree. Place the bell pepper star at the top of the tree and the bell pepper rectangle at the bottom of the tree.
4. In a bowl, mix the basil pesto sauce with a little olive oil. Sprinkle over lettuce leaves. Scatter the mozzarella balls and tomatoes over the "tree branches". Drizzle with the remaining pesto and a little extra oil when serving. Delicious!
Yield: 6 servings
Recipe: taste.com