4.6 from 126 votes
Caprese with Pesto Bites
Caprese with Pesto Bites are made by topping small grilled bread squares with a spoonful of homemade basil pesto, a cube of mozzarella cheese, and a halved cherry tomato. The pesto combines toasted pine nuts, Romano cheese, garlic, and olive oil for a flavorful herb spread. These bites blend fresh, creamy, and crisp textures into a bite-sized appetizer attentive to balance.
Servings:
24
bites
Course:
Appetizer, Others
Ingredients
- 12 cherry tomato
- mozzarella cheese do not use fresh-it falls apart when cut
- 3-4 lices Italian bread or some other rustic type bread
- olive oil for brushing on bread
- 1 cup basil packed leaves
- ¼ cup pine nuts toast by placing in a hot pan and stir for 3-4 minutes, toasted
- ¼ cup Romano cheese
- 1 garlic large clove, minced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- salt if desired
- black pepper if desired
Instructions
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half and set aside
- Slice mozzarella cheese into 1/4" slices then cut into but 1" squares and set aside
- Brush both sides of bread with olive oil and crisp up by placing on a hot grill (watch and turn so they don't burn - you just want to get some grill marks on both side) then cut into about 1 1/4" squares and set aside
- To make pesto, place basil and pine nuts in a food processor and process until chopped fine
- Add romano cheese, garlic and cheese and process until mixed
- With blade running, drizzle olive oil slowly until it is incorporated.
- If desired, add salt and pepper to taste
- To assemble, place about a 1/2 teaspoon of pesto on bread, top with mozzarella, cherry tomato and secure with toothpick
- Serve immediately
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