Caprese Salad on a Stick is a 5 ingredient make ahead low carb portable appetizer with garden fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and aged balsamic vinegar. The World's EASIEST Appetizer!
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What's to Love?
These little Caprese skewers are the mini super fun version of the traditional Italian Caprese salad. The fresh mozzarella balls are creamy and light. While the vine-ripened cherry tomatoes give this salad on a stick, a pop of sweetness.
The aromatic anise flavored basil, sweet and tart aged balsamic, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and dash of salt and freshly ground pepper make this one delicious bite. If you love fun food on a stick, be sure to try our Turmeric Pork Skewers and Thai Basil Dipping Sauce.
Quick and Easy
The fresh ingredients are threaded on to a bamboo skewer or large toothpick just like our Antipasto Wreath Charcuterie Skewers and served as a portable snack. It’s a great way to get both kids and adults to eat a nutritious salad that they generally would not eat if served on a big plate. Caprese Salad on a Stick for a low fuss portable appetizer, snack or on the go salad made with quality Italian ingredients.
If you can grab a stick and hold on to a beverage at the same time, you have got the recipe for perfect entertaining and/or getting kids to eat something healthy.
5 Ingredients + 5 Minutes = Italian Caprese Salad
This quick and easy Italian tomato and cheese Salad is just what you need to keep you feeling full but on top of your game. It is low carb and gluten-free snack and made with only 5 ingredients. What is not to love?
Why is this salad called Caprese?
This salad, otherwise known as Insalata Caprese in Italian, originated in a small island off the coast of Capri Islands in the coast of Naples in southern Italy. If you can’t travel, at least you can travel to this beautiful place from the comfort of your own kitchen and enjoy some of Capri’s famous recipes.
5 Delicious Ingredients
- Fresh Mozzarella balls
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Basil
- Aged Balsamic Vinegar
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
- salt and pepper to taste (no included in the count as we are sure you probably have this at home)
Fresh Mozzarella Balls
Did you know that Traditional Fresh Mozzarella cheese is made from milk of water buffalos? However, now a days, most fresh mozzarella balls are made from cow's milk and are sold in a brine to help keep their moisture or shape. This cheese is very soft, has a milky texture and is high in water content and lower in fat.
Many times, fresh mozzarella will be sold in the shape of balls called Bocconcini. Unlike, low moisture mozzarella, fresh mozzarella balls need to be consumed within 2-3 days as they turn sour with age.
You can find fresh mozzarella balls in the small little balls or larger balls. The small balls or bocconcini are super convenient to use on the Caprese Salad on a Stick as there is no cutting involved. However, you can also use the larger fresh mozzarella balls and cut into cubes like we did. This summer be sure to try our Grilled Harvest Wraps with fresh mozzarella for a delicious bite with grilled summer vegetables in the garden.
Cherry tomatoes
When the gardens are bursting with produce, it is the best time to make this Caprese appetizer. There is nothing like the taste a fresh garden picked cherry tomato from the garden still warm, kissed with the afternoon sunlight.
We chose both an heirloom yellow cherry tomato and red cherry tomatoes for our salad appetizer. If you have fresh tomatoes growing in the garden, be sure to try our How to Make Bruschetta Bread for a delicious fresh summer appetizer.
Basil
Fresh Italian basil is best. That delicious fresh anise bite is a nice contrast to the tomatoes and cheese. We have a little basil plant growing out on the balcony. On the ground level we have deer that thing everything planted around the home is an invitation to the open salad bar…
We know that most of you with gardens have more basil than you can shake a stick at. If so, be sure to make our Trofie al Pesto. It’s a recipe that everyone in the family loves.
Aged Balsamic Vinegar
We are talking about the good stuff! Barrel aged balsamic that is naturally sweet and woodsy from the natural aging process. Have you ever tried Fondo Montebello balsamic vinegars from Modena? Pure, delicious and luxurious. We used FM 03 Organic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI from Fondo Montebello or lighten it up with our white balsamic vinaigrette recipe.
The balsamico naturally thickens slightly during the aging process and it makes for one delicious Caprese Salad bites on a stick! If you like aged balsamic vinegars, be sure to try our Balsamic Roasted Fennel and Carrots, Balsamic Glazed Salmon and Roasted Root Vegetables, and our Chargrilled Halloumi Prosciutto Wrapped Nectarines and Balsamic Glaze.
You can find aged balsamic at whole food stores, specialty stores and Italian grocery stores or you can order it online. In a pinch, you can make your own balsamic reduction.
How to make a balsamic vinegar reduction?
Just heat balsamic vinegar over a low simmer until it reduces by half or becomes thick. It usually takes about 15 minutes. We find that the balsamic glaze or reduction is sweet enough on its own. However, if you have a sweet tooth you can add a touch of honey or maple syrup.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Italian cooking is based on the methodology of using a handful of good quality ingredients to make a dish extra delicious. When you have only five ingredients in a recipe, grab the best ingredients you can find. We love using a good extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar for our Italian Caprese Salads.
Have you tried Mie Radici's, Nocellara Organic EVOO? This extra virgin olive oil is smooth and fruity but with a peppery finish which makes it a delicious accompaniment to these delicious tomato and cheese salad kabobs and our Mediterranean Red Snapper Packets.
Plate vs Skewers
Traditional caprese salad is a simple Italian salad usually served on a large platter. Although, this is very delicious, we find that the tomatoes and fresh Italian mozzarella get kind of soggy in a short period of time. However, if you serve caprese salad on a stick the ingredients do not get soggy as the tomatoes are not cut.
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Yes, you can assemble the skewers in the morning and drizzle on the aged balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil just before serving. However, they are best fresh. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days covered.
We have also found that you can assemble the skewers in the morning and store in a sealed container. Hold off drizzling the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and seasonings just until the guest arrive and they stay fresh longer. Once, you drizzle the olive oil and balsamic dressing, they stay fresh for about 2 hours.
We always say drink what you enjoy. However, a delicious Falanghina wine, which is very common in the Campania Region is slightly sweet and fruity features make it the perfect crisp white wine to serve with fish, pasta or a summer salad. If you prefer a red wine, the deep aged balsamico can stand up to a Pinot Noir, which has relativity low tannin levels.
The ingredients in a Caprese salad are part of a Mediterranean diet and part of a heart healthy diet. This recipe is low carb, gluten free and vegetarian. According to NIH, “In the era of evidence-based medicine, the Mediterranean diet represents the gold standard in preventive medicine, probably due to the harmonic combination of many elements with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which overwhelm any single nutrient or food item. The whole seems more important than the sum of its parts.”
More Salad Recipes
Heirloom Tomato Cucumber Salad
Gluten-Free Balsamic Panzanella Salad
Best Vegan Warm Swiss Chard Lentil Salad
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Caprese Salad on a Stick
Equipment
- skewers
Ingredients
- 24 whole cherry tomatoes red and yellow if you desire
- 6 - 8 oz fresh mozzarella ball large cut into cubes or 12 mini fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
- 12-24 whole basil leaves fresh Italian
- 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze or reduced balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Thread the whole red cherry tomatoes, followed by a small fresh mozzarella balls or cubes, then with another whole yellow cherry tomato and then finally a basil leaf on the skewers. Depending on the size of your skewers, you may need to add more tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil or less.
- Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar to taste. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls says
YUM... this is the perfect summer treat and such a fabulous way to take advantage of garden fresh produce. These would also be so perfect to serve at summer parties!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Heidi! They are an easy dish to pass to bring to picnics and gatherings too. Always a hit.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Heidi. Caprese salad on the stick is the perfect appetizer to bring to parties- easy and portable.
Lynn Fenby says
This sweet recipe is the easiest, sweetest little appetizer that you could serve. It is a lovely dish to serve, and the addition of the balsamic vinegar is the perfect touch. My girlfriends loved it, and it was so so easy!!!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Lynn. We are all about those no cook easy appetizers and snacks so we can spend more time with our guests and less time in the kitchen. Stay well and take care
Ian says
This is a nice little party treat that I would never have thought to make. Healthy and lite -- and you can still hold your G&T
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Ian. Yes that is right. A gin in tonic in one hand and a Caprese Salad on a Stick in the other and you are good to go. Stay well and take care
Eha Carr says
*laugh* How important is presentation ? Perchance some friends might not reach for a bowl of the salad . . . but, put your ingredients on a stick, hand them around with a smile and say 'Would you care for some Caprese salad with your drink ?' and see eyes light up ! Nice indeed !!
HWC Magazine says
Absolutely! Thank you Eha. Everything on a stick is more fun, right. After all one hand is free for a glass of wine. Win-Win! Hope you are staying well. Sending positive vibes your way.
Ken says
Perfect Wine Hour finger food...
HWC Magazine says
That's a great saying. going to borrow that one. Perfect with your favorite glass of wine.
Cal says
What a great idea
HWC Magazine says
Thanks Cal! Food on a stick is always more fun. Wishing you a super day ahead.
Barb says
Gonna make these for Saturday family picnic
HWC Magazine says
Sounds like a great plan Barb! Enjoy your weekend. Take Care
John / Kitchen Riffs says
I was just out in our herb garden and noticed our basil is going great guns. So I need to use some, quick. What could be better than caprese salad? And anything on a stick is always fun. Nice!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you John! Pass some of that fresh basil our way. Make some delicious pesto and drizzle it on top of the Caprese salad on a stick. Delicious.
Cal says
Mmm. So easy.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Cal. Stay well and take care
Priya says
sounds really tempting bobby 🙂 It seems like I have missed so many of your posts these days. hope you are doing good 🙂
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Priya... I know life is just busy, right? Hope you are doing well too. Take Care
Liz says
I haven't made anything "Caprese" this summer! Your skewers look like a delicious way to remedy that!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Liz! Enjoy the tomato season, it will be gone before you know it.
Raymund says
I guess this is the best way of serving this salad! Easy to pickup and munch on
HWC Magazine says
Thanks Raymund! Everything is always better on a stick. That way you can hold your drink in one hand and the stick in the other. Win- win!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
This is the perfect time to enjoy this snack as cherry and grape tomatoes are at the peak right now.
HWC Magazine says
You bet Karen! Tomatoes are at their peak and we are certainly celebrating the season. Hope you are doing well. Stay well and take care