A Caprese salad is a simple salad made of sliced mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil. Even when I make this with the freshest mozzarella cheese and sweetest tomatoes, I find it a little flat in flavor. I long for the saltiness of good olives and a bite of fresh grilled veggies. So I put these flavors together to create the Caprese Skewers.

I love the sweetness of these tiny tomatoes and they are the perfect size to combine with small mozzarella balls and Kalamata olives. These don’t involve so much cooking as assembly and presentation. Presentation takes this simple appetizer to a new level. Find something in your house that skewers will stand in. I used a vintage pottery flower frog placed inside a retro glass bowl. You can use any kind of frog for flowers or even a drinking glass.Stand whatever you choose in a large bowl or platter and surround with tiny tomatoes.

I soak the bamboo skewers, so guests can’t get any splinters as they slide the food off. I season the mozzarella balls with basil and red pepper flakes but feel free to change the seasonings and make the recipe your own. If you have any leftovers, put them on a bed of arugula or spinach and have a truly delicious Caprese salad.

Grill the zucchini ahead of time. Your vegetarian guests will thank you!

Caprese Veggie Skewers (Apps & Alcohol Party)

CAPRESE VEGGIE SKEWERS

EVENT: Apps & Alcohol

SERVES: Approximately 10-12. Total Skewers: 2 Dozen.

Ingredients

4 zucchini

1 lb tiny sugar plum tomatoes

1 12-oz. container fresh mozzarella balls (24 mozzarella balls) *

1 jar 6.5-oz. pitted Greek Kalamata olives

1-2 teaspoon dried basil

Red pepper flakes (optional)

Equipment

Bamboo skewers 6” or 10”.

Directions

1. Slice zucchini into very thin slices.

2. Grill sliced zucchini on nonstick grill pan with no oil. This can be done several days ahead and stored in airtight container in refrigerator.

3. Drain mozzarella balls from oil or liquid they are in.

4. Toss mozzarella balls with dried basil and red pepper flakes, if desired.

5. When ready to assemble, drizzle zucchini with olive oil, sea salt, pepper and dried basil.

6. Cut each zucchini slice into 2 or 3 pieces.

7. Assemble each skewer as to follow:

• tomato
• zucchini
• olive
• mozzarella ball
• zucchini
• tomato

* A NOTE: I purchase fresh mozzarella balls at Costco.

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