Strawberry caprese skewers with balsamic drizzle

Strawberry caprese skewers with Balsamic drizzle

Shannon's easy caprese appetizer recipe calls for marinating mozzarella cubes with basil leaves, lemon zest, lemon juice, oil, salt and sugar. Then the cubes are layered between sliced strawberries, secured with a toothpick and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. These fresh and flavorful Strawberry Caprese Skewers are like summer on a stick—a happy blend of tangy, sweet and salty.

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Ingredients

About 2 dozen small- to medium-sized fresh basil leaves, rolled and thinly sliced
Zest from 1 medium-sized lemon
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
¼ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. sugar
4 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, drained and cut into 2 dozen cubes
1 dozen medium-sized fresh strawberries, washed and dried
Black peppercorns
Balsamic vinegar for finishing

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the basil leaves, lemon zest, lemon juice, oil, salt and sugar.
  2. Add the cubed mozzarella and gently toss to be sure all of the cheese is well coated. Cover with plastic wrap, place in the refrigerator, and marinate for 15 minutes.
  3. While the cheese is marinating, cut the strawberries, horizontally, into ¼- to ½-inch slices.
  4. Remove the marinated cheese from the refrigerator and place 1 dozen pieces of cheese on a serving plate. Then place one strawberry slice on top of each cheese base, being sure to pick up bits of basil and lemon zest with each one. Repeat with a second slice of cheese and strawberry.
  5. Gently place a toothpick through each stack.
  6. Crack generous amounts of black pepper over the entire plate.
  7. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve.