Caprese Skewers with Pesto (Printable Version)

Tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil combine on skewers finished with a zesty pesto drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Skewers

01 - 12 cherry tomatoes
02 - 12 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
03 - 12 fresh basil leaves
04 - 12 small wooden or bamboo skewers

→ Pesto Drizzle

05 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
06 - 2 tablespoons pine nuts
07 - 1 small garlic clove
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Method:

01 - Thread one cherry tomato, one mozzarella ball, and one basil leaf onto each skewer in sequence. Arrange the assembled skewers on a serving platter.
02 - In a food processor, combine basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic clove, and grated Parmesan cheese. Pulse until finely chopped.
03 - With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil until the pesto reaches a smooth consistency. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
04 - Drizzle the prepared pesto over the assembled skewers immediately before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • These come together in fifteen minutes flat, which means you can make them while guests arrive instead of stressing in the kitchen.
  • The flavors are so fresh and alive that people actually taste the basil and tomato, not just a blurry appetizer.
  • They look stunning on a board without trying, which feels like you actually put in effort when you really just assembled three ingredients.
02 -
  • The tomato to mozzarella ratio matters because if one is too big for the other, they slip off the skewer and roll under the table like tiny edible marbles—use roughly equal-sized pieces so they stay put.
  • Pesto made two hours ahead tastes different than pesto made five minutes before serving because the basil flavor fades and the oil gets heavier, so make it as close to serving time as you can manage.
03 -
  • If you don't have a food processor, a mortar and pestle works beautifully for pesto and actually gives you more control over the texture than you'd expect.
  • A tiny drizzle of balsamic vinegar over the finished skewer adds a sweet-tart note that makes people pause and ask what that flavor is, which is always a nice moment in the kitchen.
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