Rule #57: Work smarter, not harder.
I love me a caprese salad, y’all. Gimme all the basil, tomaters, and mozzarella my tummy can hold. The flavors and colors all blend together so beautifully! I wanted to create an appetizer that captured the spirit of my favorite salad. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce to you your new favorite appetizer: Caprese Bites.
This simple recipe includes just a few ingredients: basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, pearl sized mozzarella balls, olive oil, Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glaze (or boil a cup of balsamic vinegar until it reduces by half), Kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
If you can’t find the perline (pearl sized mozzarella), just cut some fresh mozzarella into bite-sized pieces.
Make sure you halve your cherry tomatoes so they don’t choke the folks you’re feeding! That is a quick way to end a party.
Here’s a hack for you to cut these little tomatoes a bit faster! Get two to-go container lids. Place some tomatoes in the top of one.
Place the other lid upside down on the tomatoes.
Use one hand to press the lid down, and cut through the tomatoes with the other. Voila! Time saver!
Now, thread a toothpick through the base of a basil leaf. Then thread a tomato half on.
Next, add a mozzarella ball.
Then close it up with the other end of the basil leaf.
Repeat until you’ve used your ingredients up and have as many as you need. For my container of mozzarella balls, I ended up with two plates about this size. Now, if you’re making these ahead of time, just throw on some plastic wrap and place them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
When you’re ready, arrange the bites on a platter and drizzle with olive oil and the balsamic glaze.
Then, sprinkle with salt and pepper and ENJOY! I love a low carb, delicious appetizer that’s easy to make. I think it’s usually the most simple recipes that are the best. And bonus: this one is made up of Christmas colors! It would be perfect at your next holiday gathering as a light party food addition.
I hope these Caprese Bites are a hit with your crowd the same way they are with ours!
Caprese Bites
Ingredients
- Toothpicks
- Basil leaves
- Cherry tomatoes halved
- Pearl sized mozzarella balls perline, or mozzarella cut into bite-sized pieces
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glaze or balsamic vinegar that’s been boiled and reduced by half so it thickens
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Thread a toothpick through the base of a basil leaf, then a tomato half, then the mozzarella ball, and again through the other end of the basil. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary, and Pineapple House Rules makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.