These easy-to-make Caprese Salad Skewers are the perfect appetizer for any time of year.
This is a dish I have served at barbecues, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. This appetizer has also been served at baby showers and bridal showers.
What is Caprese Salad
Caprese Salad is an Italian salad representing the three colours of the Italian Flag and dates back to the 1920s.
A traditional Caprese Salad is basically five ingredients. It consists of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, layered on a plate.
Easier Way To Serve Caprese Salad
By using skewers to make this salad, it is easier to serve. The skewers turn this salad into a hand-held appetizer that can be served for any occasion.
The recipe is simple. With very little math, you can adjust the recipe to make as many servings as you need. Each skewer is 2 tomatoes, one boconcini, and one basil leaf.
How To Serve This Appetizer
Serving this appetizer is easy. Line a plate with the prepared skewers and serve.
In the summer, they are great to serve at a BBQ or for a picnic. They are an easy afternoon snack in the summer since they are made with fresh seasonal ingredients. We grow tomatoes and basil in our garden, so we can make these from ingredients picked fresh from the garden.
They are the perfect colours for Christmas. The red of the tomatoes and green of the basil make them a festive appetizer to serve at this time of year.
These also make a great snack or can be packed in a lunch for work or school.
Our kids love them as a snack because they are grab-and-go. And when we have the ingredients on hand, they make them for their friends.
Ingredients For Caprese Salad Skewers
The ingredients for this appetizer are simple and easy to find—seven ingredients in total, including salt and pepper.
Cherry or Grape tomatoes.
Whichever is easiest to find will work. Sometimes I use different colours of cherry tomatoes that I find at our local grocer.
Bocconcini or cubed mozzarella
Bocconcini is found in the deli section of our local grocery store. You can find them shaped like medallions or round balls. Either one will work.
If you can’t find bocconcini, cubes of mozzarella will work just as well.
Fresh Basil
It has to be fresh basil for this recipe. The basil is added to the skewers, tomatoes, and cheese, so full leaves are recommended.
Balsamic Vinegar
Any balsamic vinegar will work. It will need to be reduced to make a glaze.
If you prefer, a balsamic reduction can be purchased already made. I have used it in a pinch when time is limited.
Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the choice for this dish.
Salt and Pepper
Kosher Salt and fresh cracked pepper are our choices.
Alternative to Balsamic Reduction
There have been times when I don’t reduce the Balsamic Vinegar. Instead, I place a bowl of balsamic vinegar along with a bowl of olive oil and some chopped basil to add to the skewers at the table. This allows everyone to enjoy as much or as little vinegar and oil as they like.
Caprese Salad Skewers
Equipment
- 12 4-6 inch wooden skewers
Ingredients
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 24 cherry or grape tomatoes
- 12 boconcini balls or cubes of mozzarella
- 15 basil leaves
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Place balsamic vinegar in a small pot and simmer over medium-low heat until reduced to half, stirring, about 20 minutes.*
- Cut 12 basil leaves in half.
- Finely chop remaining basil leaves.
- Add a tomato to a skewer, then a basil leaf half, one cheese, another half of basil leaf, and another tomato.
- Repeat with remaining skewers and ingredients.
- Arrange skewers on a plate and drizzle with balsamic reduction and olive oil.
- Sprinkle chopped basil leaves over the skewers and serve.
