One of my favorite salads is the classic Caprese Salad using the simple combination of fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella. What I love about this salad is: it’s very easy to put together, takes little time and energy, the flavors work so well together and offers healthy nutrients, protein and fiber all in a delicious appetizer.
We took this simple salad to the next level by adding Pomegranate juice infusing a touch of sweetness to the vinegar.
I changed this recipe up a bit by using bite-sized cherry tomatoes and mini balls of mozzarella to skewer into individual servings. These little bites make it easy to entertain during the holiday rush. It’s a no fuss recipe that comes together easily. While I think the pomegranate step is definitely worth the extra effort, you can forgo all the cooking and just use a dash of Balsamic vinegar instead.
The red, white and green colors are also quite festive for the holiday season. If you planning a holiday party or simply expecting visitors to stop by, make up a batch of these festive Tomato and Mozzarella Bites.
PREP TIME: 10 mins
COOK TIME: 5 mins
TOTAL TIME: 15 mins
SERVES: 16
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup pomegranate juice
- 8 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- salt to taste
- 16 fresh basil leaves
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick and cut in fourths if using a large ball. Otherwise you can use 16 small mozzarella balls.
- ¼ cup olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a small saucepan, cook the vinegar and pomegranate juice over medium heat until it reduces by half, approximately 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, layer the sliced tomatoes on a serving platter and sprinkle each with salt. Layer a basil leaf over each tomato and top with mozzarella. Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic pomegranate reduction over the tomato and mozzarella bites.
- Pierce each mozzarella bite with a toothpick and serve.
