Heart Shape Caprese Skewers – An Easy Valentine’s Day Recipe

If you are looking for a simple, unique Valentine’s Day appetizer, then you are going to love these Heart Shape Caprese Skewers. All the flavors of a traditional Caprese salad, but made into a beautiful appetizer that is served on small wooden skewers.

However instead of simply arranging the ingredients in alternating order, the tomatoes are cut and positioned together to form a heart shape. It makes for the perfect appetizer, hand held salad, or side dish when celebrating Valentine’s Day, your anniversary or simply for putting a unique spin on a classic dish.

Caprese refers to a traditional Italian salad that most often. consists of fresh slices of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and strips of fresh basil leaves. The ingredients are often arranged in a circular pattern on a plate or platter.

Then the top is drizzled with olive oil or a balsamic vinegar reduction and sometimes sprinkled with salt and pepper. The combination of these simple, fresh ingredients showcases the flavors of small, ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and the aromatic herb of basil.

The word “Caprese” itself is derived from the island of Capri in Italy, where the salad is believed to have originated. In addition to the salad, the term “Caprese” can also be used to describe other dishes inspired by or incorporating these traditional ingredients.

For example, a Caprese sandwich might feature the same combination of mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil between slices of bread. And in this case the use of the term implies a dish that celebrates the flavors of these key ingredients strung on a skewer and served as a hand held appetizer.

Ingredients Required For Heart Shape Caprese Skewers

Tomatoes

Although classic Caprese salad typically includes slices of larger tomatoes, here you need smaller size tomatoes so that they fit easily on the skewers. Although your first instinct may be to use cherry tomatoes, there is a better option.

Grape tomatoes, when cut in half on an angle can easily be formed into a heart shape. That is because they are more oblong in shape than round cherry tomatoes.

Therefore, when purchasing tomatoes for this recipe, pick out the best looking, most oblong shaped grape tomatoes that you can find.

Fresh Basil Leaves

During the summer it is easy to find fresh basil leaves. From backyard gardens to Farmer’s markets and even in large wholesale clubs, this leafy herb is easy to find.

However, if you are making these Heart Shape Caprese Skewers as an appetizer in the middle of winter, finding fresh basil can sometimes be a bit challenging. Although you can Grow Basil Indoors, there are a few options for finding fresh basil or fresh basil leaves outside of your own garden or kitchen.

1. Grocery Stores: Many large grocery stores have expanded their produce sections to include fresh herbs year-round. Check the refrigerated produce area for packaged fresh herbs, including basil leaves. Some stores may also have potted basil plants in their fresh produce section.
2. Local Markets or Farmers’ Markets: Some local markets or farmers’ markets may have vendors who grow herbs indoors or in greenhouses, allowing them to offer fresh basil throughout the year. Visit these markets to see if any vendors have fresh basil available.
3. Specialty or Health Food Stores: Specialty or health food stores often carry a wider variety of fresh produce, including herbs. Check with your local health food store or specialty grocery store to see if they have fresh basil in stock.
4. Ethnic Grocery Stores: If you live near ethnic grocery stores, particularly those specializing in Mediterranean or Italian foods, they may have fresh basil available.

Mozzarella Cheese

Every good Caprese salad includes fresh mozzarella cheese, including these heart shape Caprese skewers. However, instead of cutting thick chunks of the fresh cheese, it is best to purchase mini fresh mozzarella cheese balls.

Also commonly known as mozzarella pearls or bocconcini the cheese is most often packaged in a plastic container filled with liquid or in plastic shrink wrap. You will most often find them located in the specialty cheese case at your local grocery store.

Balsamic Vinegar Reduction

Although optional, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar reduction over the top of the Caprese skewers provides not only an impressive visual presentation but also adds a ton of flavor.

Just be sure to use a high-quality reduction for best results. You can find the bottles of balsamic vinegar reduction in the condiment aisle, next to the salad dressings or near the specialty cheese case.

Salt & Pepper

Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.

How to Make Heart Shape Caprese Skewers

1. Prepare The Tomatoes – Wash and dry the oblong grape tomatoes. Then slice them in half at an angle. Turn one half of the tomato upside down and place the two cut sides together to form a heart.

*You may need to mix and match the tomato halves so that they form perfectly formed hearts. Set the tomatoes aside, being sure to keep the matching pair together.

2. Prepare The Basil – If you have fresh basil still attached to the stem, remove the leaves. You will not need to cut the basil unless the leaves are large. Instead, fold each whole leaf and place them on the skewers.

3. Assemble The Ingredients – Take a toothpick or skewer and fold a piece of basil and add it to the skewer. Then add a mini Mozzarella ball, the tomato heart, then another cheese ball, and another piece of basil. Repeat for the remaining skewers.

4. Season – Drizzle with the balsamic reduction (optional) over the heart shape Caprese skewers and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Alternative Assembly Instructions For Heart Shape Caprese Skewers

If the thought of making hearts and assembling the skewers seems too labor intensive, you can still enjoy this classic salad and keep the heart theme intact.

Instead of making individual, hand-held appetizers, organize the ingredients in a heart shape. You can do this by lining the cheese, basil and tomatoes in rows in the shape of a heart.

Or combine everything together in random order and then place the mixture on a platter in a heart shape. It is a great way to get the flavors of Caprese salad without the extra work.

Heart Shape Caprese Skewers Recipe

* Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to read the entire article for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups grape tomatoes (longer oblong ones are best)
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 2 cups mini Mozzarella cheese balls
• Balsamic vinegar reduction (optional)
• salt & pepper to taste

*Note – This recipe makes 24 skewers. However you can easily decrease the amount to make fewer if making this recipe for two.

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut each grape tomato on an angle. Turn one half of the tomato upside down and match it up with the other to make a heart shape. You may need to mix and match grape tomato halves to make perfect heart shapes.

Fold a piece of basil and pierce a hole through the center and slide it on a toothpick or small skewer. Then add a mini Mozzarella ball, then the tomato heart, another cheese ball, then another piece of basil.

Repeat the process for the remaining skewers. Once they are all assembled, drizzle the balsamic reduction (optional) on top and season with salt and pepper to taste.

ENJOY!

*For other tomato inspired recipes visit the Tomato Recipes Tab at the top of the article.

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