Looking for a quick salad recipe to serve as an appetizer then you will love these mini Caprese skewers recipe. Fresh marinated mini mozzarella skewered on a cocktail stick with juicy cherry tomatoes and fresh basil leaves with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Why you will love these Caprese skewers (salad kabobs)
- Simple, quick, fun to make, and tasty
- Easy to assemble, ready in 10 minutes
- Makes a great make-ahead appetizer
- 4 ingredients bite-sized no-cook appetizer
- Fresh, light, healthy, and delicious! Caprese salad on a stick!!
- Perfect for entertaining or a healthy snack. It is a great appetizer you can easily whip up for parties. This is so good that it can be served for any occasion.
Tools needed
Cocktail sticks/ bamboo knot pick
Caprese salad skewers Ingredients
Fresh mini mozzarella balls (also known as mozzarella pearls or bocconcini)
Cherry tomatoes: substitute with grape tomatoes (mini plum tomatoes)
Fresh basil leaves
Balsamic glaze
Quick Marinated Mozzarella ingredients
Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh garlic cloves
Italian seasoning substitute with herb de Provence
Salt
Red pepper flakes substitute with freshly cracked black pepper
Variations
- Make Caprese skewers with pesto, instead of marinating the cheese in herb-infused oil, marinate in homemade basil pesto, so delicious.
- Antipasto skewers: Add prosciutto or salami to the salad kabob
- Add olives such as kalamata to the salad,
- Peach Caprese: you may also add fresh peach slices or any other seasonal fruits of choice.
- Tortellini Caprese bite
How to make caprese skewers (caprese kabobs)
Marinate the mozzarella: to a small bowl, add olive oil, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt, and mix combine. Add the mozzarella balls to the seasoned oil and mix to combine. Set aside for about 10 minutes to marinate then prep the rest of the ingredients.
Wash and pat dry the cherry tomatoes and get the cocktail sticks ready. Do not pluck the basil yet as it would go black.
Thread the cherry tomato, marinated mozzarella balls, basil leaves, and another cherry tomato on a toothpick (cocktail stick) and place it on a plate. Repeat the process until have exhausted all the ingredients.
Drizzle the balsamic vinegar on the Caprese skewers just before serving. Enjoy!
Tips
- Use quality ingredients you can find and make sure to use ripe and juicy tomatoes at all times.
- Marinate the mozzarella 24 hours before needed for more infused flavors.
- While balsamic vinegar is not a must in making this salad skewers, I highly recommend it for the tad of sweetness and tanginess it adds to the salad.
- Assemble the salad a few minutes before serving as it is best to serve at a room temperature
FAQs
Can you grill Caprese kabobs
Yes, you can grill it on the stovetop grill or bbq grill. You will have to work on the grill quickly as the cheese melts easily. Do about 30 seconds per side until you are happy about the result.
Alternatively, swap the mozzarella for halloumi as it is a grilling cheese. Halloumi will hold on to the heat but mozzarella cheese can’t. That said it would no longer be Caprese skewers as fresh mozzarella cheese is traditionally used in making Caprese salad.
What's the difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze?
In a simple form, balsamic vinegar is lighter in consistency than balsamic glaze. Balsamic vinegar is cooked down with a sweetener such as honey, granulated sugar, brown sugar, or corn-starch until reduced and a syrup is formed.
The glaze is syrupy, thick, and shiny in nature while balsamic vinegar is waterlike.
Substitute for basil in Caprese salad
A good substitute would be fresh arugula and yes, you can eat basil leaves in caprese salad
More no-cook party appetizer recipes
Prosciutto appetizer with cream cheese and crackers
If you made this Caprese skewers recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback and rate it 5 stars. Tag us @cravingsmallbites on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest
Caprese Skewers Recipe (Salad Kabobs)
Equipment
- Cocktail sticks/ bamboo knot pick
Ingredients
- 12 fresh mini mozzarella balls
- 24 Cherry tomatoes: substitute for grape tomatoes mini plum tomatoes
- 24 Fresh basil leaves (preferably small leaves)
- ¼ cup balsamic glaze
Quick Marinated Mozzarella ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes or as needed
Instructions
Marinate the mozzarella
- To a small bowl, add olive oil, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt and mix combine. Add the mozzarella balls to the infused oil and mix to combine. set aside for about 10 minutes (or 30 minutes) to marinate then prep the rest of the ingredients
- Prep: Wash and pat dry the cherry tomatoes and get the cocktail sticks ready. Do not pluck the basil yet as it would go black.
- Thread the cherry tomato, marinated mozzarella balls, basil leaves, and another cherry tomato on a toothpick (cocktail stick) and place it on a plate. Repeat the process until have exhausted all the ingredients.
- Drizzle the balsamic vinegar on the caprese skewers just before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use quality ingredients you can find and make sure to use ripe and juicy tomatoes at all times.
- Marinate the mozzarella 24 hours before needed for more infused flavors.
- While balsamic vinegar is not a must in making this salad skewers, I highly recommend it for the tad of sweetness and tanginess it adds to the salad.
- Assemble the salad a few minutes before serving as it is best to serve at a room temperature
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