Bocconcini, literally "little mouthfuls" in Italian, are bite-size balls of fresh mozzarella. Pair them with sun-ripened cherry tomatoes and your favourite pesto and you have one of the simplest and most delicious salads known to man.

Serves 4

Salad:

• 8 ounces (200 grams) mini bocconcini (baby mozzarella balls)
• 2 cartons (28 oz/792 grams) cherry tomatoes
• 8 tablespoons basil pesto (recipe below or use your favourite)

Pesto:

• 1.4 cups walnuts
• 1/4 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic (3 cloves)
• 5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1-1/2 cup good olive oil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, drained

Drain the bocconcini. Pat dry. If you were unable to find the small bocconcini, cut them in half to match the size of the tomatoes. Rinse and pat dry the cherry tomatoes. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for at least one hour to allow flavours to marry. Pesto Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.