This Caprese Salad Wreath is green and red and so festive for the holidays! This post was originally sponsored by Pompeian.
I find mozzarella so comforting. 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 that not only do I have a recipe for Carpese Pasta Salad, but I even have a grilled cheese version.
But how do I make it perfect for the holidays?
Caprese Salad Wreath
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 and top with a circle of tomatoes (like a donut of tomatoes, really).
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 simple.
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! – Christine
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Caprese Salad Wreath
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Refrigerate: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: Italian
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
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ⅛ 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.
This post originally appeared in December 2018 and was revised and republished in December 2021.
Lynne B says
Fresh mozzarella is so yummy! This is such a festive looking presentation. I’d love it drizzled with some balsamic vinegar.
Christine Pittman says
Thanks, Lynne! I really like this one too!