Caprese Salad Wreath
It’s red and green and shaped like a wreath! How perfect is this Caprese Salad for Christmas? This post is sponsored by Pompeian.
I find mozzarella so comforting. It reminds me of being a kid, probably because it’s on pizza and other kid-friendly foods. Combine that happy, comfort food with some basil and olive oil though, and it turns into an adult-friendly wonder: Caprese Salad! I love Caprese Salad. So much. I also love serving it to guests. One of my favorites is this Carpese Pasta Salad. I’ve been making it for picnics and summer potlucks for years and there are never any leftovers. So good. But how do I make my beloved Caprese into a Winter Holiday Wonder?
Enter the Caprese Salad Wreath. Yesssss.
This looks fancy and difficult to make. But it’s pretty simple, if a tad time-consuming. You make a quick mixture of shredded mozzarella, cream cheese, and flavorful olive oil, and then stuff it into cherry tomatoes (that last part is the time-consuming part). Then you arrange fresh basil leaves in a circle on a plate, top with a circle of tomatoes (like a donut of tomatoes, really). And voilà!
Yes, hallowing out the tomatoes and then stuffing them takes a little while (it’s about 15 minutes per pint of tomatoes) but once they’re filled, arranging them is a piece of cake. Or should I say a piece of cheese? Ha! I’m so lame!
How to Make a Caprese Salad Wreath:
In a food processor, combine 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 8 ounces room temperature cream cheese, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of tasty olive oil.
Next, use a paring knife to cut around the top of a cherry tomato. You want to angle inwards.
Pop out the part you’ve cut and gently squeeze out any seeds left inside. Repeat with two pints of cherry tomatoes.
Use a spoon to gently fill each tomato.
Push the filling in with your fingers if needed. Use a damp paper towel to wipe the outside of the tomato if some filling has smudged on there. Put the tomatoes on a plate and refrigerate until just before serving. Refrigeration sets the filling nicely.
Arrange about 20 fresh basil leaves in a ring towards the edge of a medium sized plate.
Top the ring of leaves with a ring of tomatoes.
Do several rings of tomatoes to create a nice wreath effect. Refrigerate for up to 3 hours before serving.
Enjoy!
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Description
It’s red and green and shaped like a wreath. How perfect is this Caprese Salad appetizer for Christmas?
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened (room temperature)
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 20 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Measure the mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into a food processor. Pulse to combine.
- Core the top out of the tomatoes. Squeeze each one gently to get out the liquid and seeds.
- Use a teaspoon to fill the tomatoes, pushing in with your fingers as needed. Wipe tomatoes clean with a wet paper towel.
- Arrange basil leaves in a ring on a dinner plate. Top with tomatoes also in a ring.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set the filling inside of the tomatoes.
1472.8 g300.3 mg10.7 g4.5 g9.1 g27 mg
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Pompeian. All opinions are my own.
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Fresh mozzarella is so yummy! This is such a festive looking presentation. I’d love it drizzled with some balsamic vinegar.
Thanks, Lynne! I really like this one too!