Prep Time: 30 min.
Who doesn't love the flavorful combination of a tomato and mozzarella appetizer? Even harder to resist are these simple ingredients when transformed into a beautiful flowers.
The creamy mozzarella and sweet tomatoes are summer on a plate. Serve these skewers as a fun snack, as part of a delicious salad, or as finger food at your next dinner party.
Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic dressing, dip in pesto, or enjoy as is. This elegant mozzarella ball appetizer would also make an excellent addition to any cheese board alongside my feta fries and parmesan chips.
Ingredients you'll Need
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
• Grape tomatoes: If you can find them, it would be great to use orange, yellow, and red grape tomatoes for a pop of color. If not, stick to red. They will still look beautiful stacked.
• Bocconcini: Also known as mini mozzarella balls. You might need to halve them depending on the size of your tomatoes.
• Green onion: Use these to garnish the appetizer by sliding a piece of trimmed green onion onto each skewer, but it's also fine to only have it on some of the skewers (like I did).
How to Make Mozzarella Tomato Skewers
1. Cut each tomato in a cross from the top down 3/4 of the way.
2. Remove the pulp with a small spoon.
3. Place smaller tomatoes inside the larger ones, mixing and matching colors.
4. Add the bocconcini in the center and stick a skewer through.
5. Cut the green onions into similarly long pieces and slide them over the skewers.
6. Make the dressing, pour it over, and serve.
Possible Variations
• Grape tomatoes: Use cherry tomatoes instead.
• Fresh mozzarella balls: Try marinated mozzarella balls, goat cheese, blue cheese, or a cream cheese mixture for a different taste.
• Garnish: Add fresh basil leaves to make caprese skewers.
• Skewers: Make charcuterie skewers using cured meats, other cheeses, olives, pickles, fruits, or veggies. Or, if you want a smaller appetizer, try using toothpicks or canapé sticks instead.
FAQs
Can I make the skewers in advance?
You can carve the tomatoes a few hours ahead. Store them covered in the fridge. Wait to add the mozzarella until the very last minute to avoid color or juices transfer.
What can I serve the mozzarella bites with?
Serve them on their own, dip them into a delicious pesto, or enjoy them as part of a charcuterie or cheese board.
What if I don't have skewers?
Serve them standing upright like I've done here:
What if I can't find yellow or orange grape tomatoes?
Layer the red tomatoes. It will still look cute or make roses like I've done here:
Do I need to drizzle the dressing over the tomatoes?
Not at all, you can serve them without the dressing or pour it into a bowl for dipping.
Other Summer Appetizers
Ingredients
- 20 grape tomatoes (mixed colors)
- 10 bocconcini (mozzarella balls)
- 10 skewers
- 3 spring onion (green onion)
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- sprinkle of sea salt
Instructions
Makes 10.
1. Slice an ‘x’ on the top of each tomato ¾ of the way down. Remove the seeds inside with a spoon.
2. Continue this way with the other tomatoes.
3. Fill a larger tomato with a smaller tomato.
4. Now place a bocconcini inside the smaller tomato.
5. Stick the flowers you just made onto skewers.
6. Trim the top of hollow spring onion stalks into 7-10 cm pieces (3 inches).
7. Slide the stalk pieces over the skewers.
8. Arrange the flower skewers on a platter or plate.
9. Top with balsamic glaze and olive oil - 1 part glaze to 3 parts olive oil. Mix well.
10. Spoon the dressing over the tomato flowers.
11. Sprinkle with sea salt.
12. Serve.
Did you make and enjoy this recipe? Don't forget to tag @foodbites in your recreations on Instagram!
