A twist on Caprese Salad made in the form of small appetizers and wrapped in another Italian favorite, cured salami.
{This post is sponsored by Chosen Foods (courtesy of Mambo Sprouts). All opinions, recipes and photos are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. The cost remains the same for you.}
Caprese – pronounced kah-preh-zey, with an emphasis on the preh part. Go ahead, say it a couple times.
Salami – pronounced salami.
When you bring the two together with garlicky mayonnaise generously slathered on the inside, you have a lovely Antipasto Caprese Appetizer.
Caprese Confession
I’m embarrassed to admit that caprese salad is on regular rotation during the summer months in our home. Tomatoes and basil are both quite prolific during this time and my entire family loves the flavor combination. And as a homecook, I love the simplicity of this Italian gem.
Caprese salad is a light salad made of layered fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil and drizzled with balsamic reduction and olive oil. It’s created to resemble the colors of the Italian flag and is usually served as a side salad.
A Twist on this Italian Fare
Salami is coated with a rich mayo blend and delicate tomato slices and basil are gently tucked in. The fresh mozzarella typically found in caprese salad is replaced with parmesan regiano and blended together with a few cloves of garlic, dried parsley in Chosen Foods mayonnaise. Finish off by sticking a cocktail pick into the appetizer to hold everything nicely.
I love a good mayo
If you haven’t learned yet, I love a good mayonnaise. You can check out all the lovely mayonnaise-obsessed recipes by clicking HERE and HERE and HERE. Don’t hate me. It’s ingrained in me. I am a victim of mayo-pandemic that most likely originated in Russia. Nothing that a good batch of mayo didn’t fix. And dill. But that’s another story.
When I’m out of my own mayonnaise, I know I can trust Chosen Foods to deliver the best stuff. In fact, the ingredients are so similar to my homemade version. Most mayos on the market contain genetically modified, industrial seed oils like corn, canola or soy. Chosen Foods mayo is made with pure avocado oil (which by the way they make too and it’s the best on the market). I love that Chosen Foods mayo is Paleo and Primal friendly and made with cage-free eggs. I’m relieved that I now have the option of a high-quality mayonnaise that can be pulled off a shelf when I’m pressed for time. Because when one craves Antipasto Caprese Bites, one much have Antipasto Caprese Bites now.
Antipasto Caprese Bites
There really is not much too it. These bites have the perfect pizzazz from the garlic, mayonnaise, basil and tomato all wrapped in a delicious Genoa Salami (we absolutely love this brand of Genoa). These bites went flying off the platter last time I served them to my family. The only prep work is combining the mayo blend together which consists of the actual mayonnaise, garlic, some hard Italian cheese such as Pecorino Romano, and dried basil. Combine that well and the rest is easy-breazy!
Antipasto Caprese Bites
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Chose Foods Mayonnaise
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 T dried basil
- 1/4 cup hard Italian cheese such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano
- 12 Genoa Salami
- 5-6 small tomatoes such as grape or cherry, sliced
- 12-14 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
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In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, garlic, dried basil, and cheese.
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Slather the mayonnaise mixture on a piece of salami. Place sliced tomato, and fresh basil leaf on 1/4 of salami. Fold the salami in half, and in half once more. Fasten with a cocktail pick.
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Enjoy immediately or place in the refrigerator for up to 4-6 hours. (The tomatoes will start releasing juices and water down the mayonnaise mixture)
What’s your favorite way to enjoy Caprese flavors? Let me know in the comments below.
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