CAPRESE SKEWERS

Caprese Skewers are 4 ingredient appetizers that are so simple to make but guaranteed to impress! Made with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil, and an easy balsamic reduction, they imitate the classic Caprese salad, only made portable on a skewer!

Modeled after the famous Caprese salad, the primary components of these skewers is a handful of fresh basil, grape or cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella.  You will also need some balsamic vinegar, which you will cook down to a balsamic reduction for drizzling.

Making the balsamic reduction is simple ? all you need is one cup of balsamic vinegar which you'll pour into a saucepan and keep it over medium-low heat until the vinegar is reduced to half its volume.  Just make sure you let that cool before drizzling it over our caprese skewers (and if you can, have a fan going or a window open while making the reduction ? the vinegar smell can be quite potent!).

By reducing the vinegar, we'll be making it thicker and more potent, and it adds the best flavor when drizzled over the fresh ingredients of these skewers.

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 oz mini mozzarella balls (if they are in water, drain and pat dry before adding to your skewers)
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 pint Grape or cherry tomatoes
• Fresh basil leaves
• You will also need 16 4" bamboo skewers

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Prepare your balsamic reduction first by pouring 1 cup of balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan over medium low heat.
2. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vinegar has reduced to about half a cup (this will take about 15 minutes or so).
3. Allow balsamic reduction to cool before drizzling over your caprese skewers (it will thicken as it cools, also).
4. To prepare Caprese skewers, spear the top of one tomato and slide it up 1" from the top of the skewer.
5. Take a small basil leaf (about 1" -- if your basil leaves are large then cut them in half first, otherwise the flavor will overwhelm the skewers) and fold it in half. Spear the basil leaf and slide it up against the tomato.
6. Repeat with a mozzarella ball, and then repeat with another tomato, basil leaf, and mozzarella ball.
7. Just before serving, drizzle with balsamic reduction.
8. Enjoy!

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