Caprese Focaccia Skewers

Caprese Focaccia Skewers 

These are a classic party or happy hour appetizer. Great by themselves or on a charcuterie platter, these are sure to be a crowd pleaser. They can be left out for guests to enjoy for up to two hours. 

Tomato, basil, marinated mozzarella balls & a cube of focaccia drizzled with balsamic & olive oil are a great handheld appetizer. You can also add salami or prosciutto. For a seasonal kick, fresh peaches are also great. They come together quickly, especially when you have an assembly line of ingredients prepared. They can be made ahead of time but it is best to add the focaccia bites to the end right before serving. 

You will need: 

● Skewers ( extra long toothpicks will do great, Amazon has some nice options) ● Cherry tomatoes 

● Mozzarella balls, marinated is optional 

● Fresh basil leaves 

● Cubed focaccia bread (best skewered from top to bottom instead of across the middle) ● Balsamic vinegar or Balsamic glaze 

● Olive oil (flavored oils are great with this recipe, get creative! Garlic oil, chili oil, basil or other herbed oils are so yummy) 

● Optional: Salami or Prosciutto ham (folded into quarters or half) 

Other variations of this recipe include: melon balls/mozzarella balls/basil/focaccia/balsamic glaze, fresh peaches/mozzarella balls/basil/focaccia/balsamic glaze, watermelon/feta/focaccia, grilled or baked chicken cubes/focaccia/cheese of choice (feta, mozzarella, cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss are all great options for this variation) 

Ingredients: 

● Mozzarella balls, marinated or plain 

● Cherry tomatoes, washed & whole 

● Focaccia cubes, any flavor 1 inch x 1 inch cubes toasted or not toasted (your preference) 

● Fresh basil leaves, washed & patted dry

● Balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze

● Optional: Proscuitto ham or Salami 

Other items needed: 

● Skewers (Amazon, Walmart, or Target have some great options) 

● Platter for serving

● Cocktail napkins for guests to use (side note, easy to forget but nice to have!)  

Put it all together: 

1. Wash the tomatoes & basil & dry them well

2. Lay out the ingredients on a plate or in a bowl for each item: tomatoes, mozzarella, focaccia squares, basil & any other ingredients you are using. Put the skewers next to the bowls. Have your balsamic and oil ready to drizzle. Having your ingredients in an assembly line makes this way more efficient & quicker. 

3. Start by taking a cherry tomato, skewer it and then a mozzarella ball, then put a basil leaf, add the meat if desired then lastly a cube of focaccia. Toasting the focaccia is optional but delicious. 

4. Place it on your serving platter and do another. Repeat until all the skewers are made. To make ahead of time keep the bread cubed in a bowl or baggy on the counter. Store the skewers in the fridge & skewer the bread onto the ends when you are ready to serve the appetizer.   

5. Before serving, drizzle the skewers lightly with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil mixture. You can use a balsamic glaze instead depending on your preference. Do not over saturate the skewers in glaze or oils; the bread will become soggy and fall off the skewers if you over saturate it in oil.