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These mini Caprese salad skewers make an easy-to-eat appetizer that’s perfect for all your summer party needs. Appetizers on a toothpick are always a hit and these are a crowd-pleaser.
All you need are four simple ingredients to make the best caprese appetizers. You can even make them ahead of time to take along with you.
If you love boating in the summertime, these caprese salad kabobs make the perfect treat to take along with you!
If you have a pontoon boat like we do or any other recreational boat that doesn’t have a galley or cooking facilities, space is tight.
I love that these healthy apps are compact, not messy and won’t spoil easily on a hot summer day.
They also pair perfectly with all kinds of other boating snacks and appetizers.
We especially love to include them with these sandwich wrap recipes and this pizza pasta salad.
Don’t forget to serve it up with your favourite boating drinks and cocktails! Nothing says summer more than a sparkling watermelon cocktail. For even more refreshing flavours, try a Mezcal Paloma or Spanish gin and tonic.
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Why You Will Love This Mozzarella Tomato Basil Appetizer
- Great flavour! These skewer appetizers combine the bright herbal flavours of basil, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella.
- Travels great and easy to eat without any utensils making it perfect for summer picnics, boating events, or on-the-go snacks.
- Versatile recipe. Start with the basics but feel free to change up the flavors by adding different ingredients.
- No mixing or cooking is required. All it takes is some time to thread on the ingredients and you’re ready to go.
Ingredients
All you need are a few simple ingredients to make Caprese salad kabobs.
- Tomatoes: Use grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes. They’re the ideal size for caprese bites.
- Mozzarella pearls: The perfect size for these appetizer skewers. If you can only find the bigger mozzarella balls, use one instead of two per skewer.
- Fresh basil: For bright, fresh flavour that brings all the classic goodness of Caprese salad to these mozzarella, tomato basil appetizer skewers.
- Balsamic glaze: You can buy balsamic glaze (I like Nonna Pia’s Classic Glaze) or make your own. It’s made by cooking down balsamic vinegar until it’s thick. It has a more intense flavour than balsamic vinegar. If you don’t have it, use balsamic vinegar mixed with a bit of honey. Another good option for balsamic glaze is vincotto, a thick, syrupy cooked wine condiment that’s popular in Greece (where it’s known as petimezi or grape molasses) and Italy.
Variations
Looking for some ways to jazz up your caprese appetizer skewers? Here’s some inspiration.
- Add an olive after the tomato. Kalamata olives or green olives would be great!
- Fold up slices of salami or pepperoni and thread them after the basil to add some Italian meats to your Caprese salad skewers.
- Cooked tortellini works great too! My favourite is cheese tortellini. It makes a more substantial appetizer and does double-duty for a light lunch.
- Swap the basil for fresh mint or add it along with the basil.
How to Make Mini Caprese Skewers
This recipe is super simple to make and only requires threading ingredients on a toothpick before serving.
- Start layering your ingredients with one of the mozzarella pearls.
- Add a piece of basil after the mozzarella. Tear large leaves in half and fold it in half as needed to make them fit better on the toothpick.
- Followed by a cherry or grape tomato.
- Add another mozzarella pearl after the tomato and drizzle with balsamic glaze to serve.
Expert Tips
- Dry the mozzarella balls lightly with a paper towel before adding them to your skewers. You don’t need to rinse them.
- Feel free to try out different variations by adding kalamata olives, sliced salami, or cooked tortellini to the skewers.
- When taking it out for picnics or on the boat, pack up the balsamic glaze in a separate container and add it when you’re ready to serve.
FAQs
If the balls have mould and/or a sour smell they’ve gone bad. Cloudy brine does not mean they’ve spoiled.
Yes, you can prepare these the day before and store them overnight. Cover and store the caprese skewers in the refrigerator. Wait to drizzle the balsamic vinegar glaze right before serving.
Vincotto (grape syrup), red wine vinegar (mixed with honey), strawberry fig glaze or pomegranate syrup are good substitutes for balsamic glaze.
More Appetizer Recipes
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Mini Caprese Salad Skewers
Ingredients
- 24 mozzarella pearls also known as bocconcini – stretched curd cheese made from cows milk
- 6 large basil leaves broken in half
- 12 cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze or vincotto or good quality balsamic vinegar
- 12 large toothpicks
Instructions
- Layer the ingredients onto a toothpick – mozzarella, basil (folded to fit), tomato, mozzarella.
- Arrange on a platter.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Notes
Nutrition
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Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.
Read more about Michele Peterson.
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