Strawberry Caprese Salad Skewers with Balsamic Reduction
Fresh and easy, Strawberry Caprese Salad Skewers are a quick appetizer that’s ready in minutes. Fresh, juicy strawberries, mozzarella cheese and basil are drizzled with a balsamic reduction making this the perfect snack for spring and summer parties.
Every spring I say I’m going to go strawberry picking. It just seems like, as a lover of all things edible, I should be foraging for my ingredients in a field full of strawberries. So, every year I look at the schedules at the surrounding farms that offer such an excursions and try to pencil in a day to go. Guess what…it never happens. But not because I don’t have time….it’s because every time I go to the farmer’s market during strawberry season I load up on baskets of berries so it’s not really necessary to sweat in a field looking for perfection. The hard work has already been done and I can sit on my deck enjoying the fruits of someone else’s labor. But that doesn’t stop me from saying I’m going strawberry picking this season because I already started looking around to see which farm will be ready first. Looking like June-ish around here. 🙂 I’ll keep y’all posted. From my deck. With my face in a pint of berries, probably.
But in the meantime, I’m going to start making all the strawberry things because the berries in the grocery store are starting to perk up right now. I could smell them when I walked in today and they smelled just like a fruity heaven. It took all my effort not to bust into that little container while I was still in the store. And they’re perfectly ripe….so I wanted to make something that would really showcase just how wonderful they really are with just a few simple ingredients. That’s where these Strawberry Caprese Salad Skewers come into play.
If there ever was an appetizer that has overstayed it’s welcome at summer parties it’s the Caprese Salad. You know the one….cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, basil with a pesto or balsamic drizzle. I know, I know….EVERYONE loves them and I do, too. But it was time for an update….bring this little stick of happiness some new life, make it a bit more hip. (Do people still say hip?) And all it took was that one ingredient….I kicked that tomato to the curb (I never really loved tomatoes, anyway) and replaced it with a ripe, juicy, sweet strawberry. Because I’m a flipping genius. Well, ok…maybe not but it’s REALLY, REALLY good!
Strawberry Caprese Salad Skewers are so easy to make, they are now my favorite appetizer ever. The balsamic reduction does take some time but that’s it…no effort at all, just boil the vinegar down into a syrupy miracle. It’s amazing on just about everything, too. So much so, it may even deserve a post of it’s own, now that I think about it! And if you’re a strawberry freak like me….you may want to check out this Strawberry Crepe Cake (it’s insanely amazing) or an easy strawberry jam (my personal fave) OR THIS Fresh Strawberry Pie (my OTHER personal FAVE!). Now, I’m going to go find a cute strawberry picking basket because it IS happening this year! I’ll bring you along on my journey over on Instagram. 🙂
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Caprese Salad Skewers with Balsamic Reduction
Ingredients
- 24 fresh strawberries, rinsed, drained and hulled
- 12 fresh mozzarella balls
- 24 basil leaves
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 12 4- inch wooden skewers
Instructions
- Add the vinegar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to boil the vinegar until reduced to approximately 1/3 of a cup. The vinegar should be syrupy at this point.
- Allow the reduction to cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container and store until ready to use.
- Thread one strawberry onto a wooden skewer, followed by one basil leave folded in half, one mozzarella ball, a second basil leaf and one strawberry. Set aside and repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the skewers.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
2 Comments on “Strawberry Caprese Salad Skewers with Balsamic Reduction”
I love your version of this salad using strawberries. It would be perfect on a day like today here in the Midwest. I’ll definitely make these.
I wish we were having warmer weather….send it this way, please!