I absolutely loooove Caprese. Traditionally, it is made by layering a slice of beefsteak (you know the big, juicy ones) tomato, a slice of buffalo mozzarella, a basil leaf on top and then drizziling with olive oil. Often, a bit of balsamic vinegar is also drizzled on top as well as a sprinkle of coarse sea salt and/or fresh ground pepper. Another addition is often sliced roasted red peppers. Because of the way it is served – plated and stacked, it is not very conducive to bring as an appetizer to a party. For the longest time, I would chop everything up and put it together like a salad. While everyone did/does love this method, it still isn’t conducive to a cocktail party where everyone is standing and talking with a drink in one hand and the other hand being the only one free for popping something in their mouth (with as little mess as possible).
So, to solve this issue and still be able to bring a yummy and healthy appetizer that I’ve found most people love, I decided to create Caprese Skewers. I’m sure I’m not the first to create this appetizer, but I haven’t seen it, so it’s a first for me. Here’s what I did. Manga!
Ingredients:
Cherry tomatoes
Bunch of fresh basil
Container (0r 2) of Mozzarella balls
Jar of roasted red/yellow bell peppers
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Toothpicks
What to do:
Cut the basil and peppers into small pieces. Drain mozzarella balls and fill tub with balsamic vinegar for them to soak in. Stack, in the following order from bottom to top: cherry tomato, basil, mozzarella ball, red pepper. Skewer all pieces at once with the toothpick and place on platter. Repeat until complete then drizzle everything with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
At the party, people will be able to just pick up a toothpick and put the whole thing in their mouth and enjoy. Remember to bring a little side bowl for people to put the used toothpicks. Manga!
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