Make Ahead

Caprese Bites

by:
August 12, 2011
0
0 Ratings
Caprese Bites
  • Serves a crowd
Author Notes

Caprese salads and skewers are one of those great antipasti dishes you just love. The tomatoes and basil are just waiting for that mozzarella to come and make a party! Every time there is a foodpickle posting asking what appetizer to please a large crowd, a veggie crowd, a recipe to beat the heat or easily transported...this is the recipe Boulangere or I always post. Can't wait to see what she posts, but here is mine... —lorigoldsby

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1 bunch fresh basil leaves
  • 1/2 pound mini mozzarella balls
  • 1/4 cup good quality, fruity olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons good quality aged balsamic vinegar (the thicker, the better)
  • kosher salt & coarse cracked pepper
  • 48 wooden skewers or toothpicks
Directions
  1. Mix olive oil and balsamic vinegar and marinate mozzarella by breaking mini balls into individual pieces. refrigerate 30 min to overnight.
  2. Wash basil leaves and spin dry in salad spinner. Slice cherry tomato into quarters. Add mozzarella ball and wrap the basil leave around both. Use skewer to secure leaf.
  3. These can be stored in refrigerator a day ahead. Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
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See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • cookinginvictoria
    cookinginvictoria
  • Sagegreen
    Sagegreen
  • wssmom
    wssmom
  • boulangere
    boulangere
  • lapadia
    lapadia
lorigoldsby

Recipe by: lorigoldsby

I learned to cook with my Gran. I can still see her reading a recipe and figuring out how she would make it better. She was fearless about substituting ingredients--but also knowledgeable. She approached food in the same way she built her antique business--appreciate quality ingredients and workmanship, but don't be a snob. I think I carry those same beliefs in my approach to cooking. I love family style dinners, I love a fancy ladies' luncheon with my wedding china, or a backyard seafood boil to celebrate my husband's birthday...I love to share food with others.

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19 Reviews

cookinginvictoria
cookinginvictoria August 15, 2011
Absolutely lovely, Lori. This is my favorite food to eat in the summer, too. I love that you serve the Caprese salad bite-sized. Aren't skewers great?
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 15, 2011
Yes, remember the scene from "Mermaids" where Cher serves all her food on toothpicks?LOL! I do like to use the more substantial mini skewers here.
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen August 14, 2011
What a perfect bite!
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 15, 2011
Thanks Sagegreen! They have a great "mouthfeel" and I think they are a "boldface" flavor combo if you check "The Flavor Bible"!
 
wssmom
wssmom August 13, 2011
Oh these are soooooo cute (and look sooooooo tasty)!!
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 13, 2011
Thanks wssmom! as Amanda and Merrill keep reminding us, we eat with our eyes first. I made these for a bookclub meeting, so i didn't need a whole bunch of them, just a couple for each person. (of course I ate the ones that weren't "perfect" before anybody arrived--just to hide the evidence!)
 
boulangere
boulangere August 12, 2011
Beautiful interpretation!
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 12, 2011
thanks B! I always think of you when I make these because you're always reccommending a caprese side dish/appetizer on foodpickle!
 
boulangere
boulangere August 12, 2011
One of those "mother" hors d'oeuvres.
 
lapadia
lapadia August 12, 2011
Love these little appetizers!!!!
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 12, 2011
Thanks! they are a crowd pleaser...perfect size and pack a punch of flavor!
 
inpatskitchen
inpatskitchen August 12, 2011
Love your take on one of my favorite appetizers!!
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 12, 2011
thanks pat! i think they'd be great sharing a platter with your proscuitto & pepper stuffed endives!
 
inpatskitchen
inpatskitchen August 12, 2011
Oh yes!!!
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx
sexyLAMBCHOPx August 12, 2011
I agree with EmilyC. I make something like this and add pancetta slices on the skewers, and offer a homemade baslsamic dressing on the side for the dipper fols. Great picture!
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx
sexyLAMBCHOPx August 12, 2011
I meant to say proscuitto not pancetta.
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 12, 2011
yes, proscuitto would be a nice add-on for the carnivores in the group!
 
EmilyC
EmilyC August 12, 2011
You really can't get much better than this flavor combination. I like that you quarter and skewer the tomatoes -- I've never seen this particular presentation. Nice!
 
lorigoldsby
lorigoldsby August 12, 2011
Its nice to quarter them, because it keeps your guests from "squirting" themselves as they take a bite!