Why I love this caprese skewers recipe
I always like to include something fresh and colorful when I’m serving appetizers.
And these Caprese skewers are an easy way to do it.
They look pretty on a platter and are easy for everyone to pick up and eat.
So they’re especially good for parties where people are mingling rather than sitting down at the table.
They’re also really easy to make.
There’s no cooking involved, and you can assemble them ahead of time so they’re ready to serve when you need them.
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 12 skewers):
- Fresh produce – 12 cherry tomatoes, 24 fresh basil leaves
- Dairy – 48 small mozzarella pearls or 24 large ones.
- Condiments – 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- Seasoning – ½ teaspoon black pepper
Substitutions & Additions
- Grape tomatoes can be substituted for the cherry tomatoes.
- If you cannot find small mozzarella pearls, use 24 larger mozzarella pearls instead or replace with mozzarella cheese cut into ½” cubes.
How to make caprese skewers
1 | Prep work
Wash the cherry tomatoes and basil.
Dry them thoroughly.
2 | Assemble the skewers
Thread 2 small mozzarella pearls onto the pointed end of the skewer. If you are using the larger pearls (or mozzarella squares), use one instead.
Slide them far enough down the skewer to leave room for the remaining ingredients at the pointed end of the stick.
And enough space on the flat end for people to grab onto.
Thread a basil leaf onto the skewer after the mozzarella.
If the leaf is large, fold it in half before piercing it so it fits neatly on the skewer.
Push one cherry tomato onto the skewer.
Pierce it through the center so it sits securely on the skewer.
Add a second basil leaf after the tomato.
Again, you may need to fold the leaf in half first if it is too large for the skewer.
Finish the skewer with 2 more small mozzarella pearls, or one large mozzarella pearl.
The finished skewer should have mozzarella at both ends with the tomato and basil in the center.
The skewers are easier to eat if the last ingredients are fairly close to the pointed end of the stick. So you might want to experiment with how far to push the ingredients onto the skewer.3 | Repeat
Continue assembling the remaining skewers in the same order until all of the ingredients have been used.
Arrange the finished skewers on a serving platter.
If you are making them in advance, put them in an airtight container or wrap them with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator.
4 | Drizzle with glaze
Just before serving, drizzle the Caprese salad skewers with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with black pepper to taste .
Be careful with how much glaze you put on. A little bit goes a long way. You don’t want it to be dripping, which makes the skewers messy to pick up and eat.
How to make ahead
Assemble the skewers up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate them, covered
I don’t like to make them too much further in advance, because the fresh basil starts to wilt and turn brown.
For the best appearance, wait to drizzle them with the balsamic glaze and add the black pepper until just before serving.
Caprese Skewers
Ingredients
- 48 small mozzarella pearls or 24 large ones
- 24 fresh basil leaves
- 12 cherry tomatoes washed and dried
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic glaze
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Equipment
- 12 small (6") skewers
Instructions
- Thread 2 small pearls of mozzarella onto a skewer. If the pearls are large, use only one.48 small mozzarella pearls or 24 large ones
- Fold a basil leaf in half and push it onto the skewer.24 fresh basil leaves
- Add a cherry tomato onto the skewer.12 cherry tomatoes
- Add another basil leaf, folded in half.
- Finally, thread on 2 more small mozzarella pearls (or one large one).
- Repeat with additional skewers until you run out of ingredients.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze and season with black pepper to taste.1 Tablespoon balsamic glaze, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Notes
- Grape tomatoes can be substituted for the cherry tomatoes.
- If you cannot find small mozzarella pearls, use 24 larger mozzarella pearls instead or replace with mozzarella cheese cut into ½” cubes.
- Be careful not to drizzle on too much balsamic glaze. It will make the skewers messy to eat if it is dripping.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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