Fresh Caprese Salad Skewers Easy Recipe with Zesty Pesto Drizzle
Bright and fresh Caprese salad skewers with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves, topped with a zesty pesto drizzle. A quick, easy, and flavorful appetizer perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 20 skewers 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved if large
- 20 small mozzarella balls (Bocconcini or Ciliegine), drained
- 20 fresh basil leaves, washed and dried
- For the Zesty Pesto Drizzle:
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves (packed)
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted lightly
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 20 wooden or bamboo skewers, about 6 inches long
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
- In a food processor, combine toasted pine nuts, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse a few times to combine.
- With the processor running, slowly add 1/3 cup olive oil until the pesto is smooth but still pourable. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides. Taste and adjust salt or lemon juice if needed.
- Thread one cherry tomato, one mozzarella ball, and one fresh basil leaf onto each skewer. Repeat the pattern if the skewer is long enough or keep it simple with one of each.
- Arrange the skewers on a serving platter. Using a spoon or small whisk, drizzle the zesty pesto evenly over the skewers, coating but not drowning them.
- Optionally sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt or cracked black pepper over the top. Serve immediately or chill for up to an hour before serving to let flavors meld.
Notes
Dry basil and mozzarella thoroughly to avoid watery skewers. Toast pine nuts carefully to prevent burning. Drizzle pesto just before serving to keep skewers fresh and vibrant. Pesto can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. For dairy-free pesto, substitute Parmesan with almond flour or nutritional yeast. Pine nuts can be swapped with walnuts or sunflower seeds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 1.5
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Caprese salad, skewers, pesto drizzle, appetizer, fresh, easy recipe, Italian, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil