Description
These Marinated Cheese & Olive Skewers are a flavorful and easy-to-make appetizer combining manzanilla olives, piquante peppers, and fresh mozzarella marinated in a zesty orange, garlic, and herb olive oil. Perfect for any gathering, they bring a delightful balance of savory, tangy, and mildly spicy notes in each bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1 orange (zested and juiced)
- 2 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
- 1 5-inch sprig fresh rosemary
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Skewers
- 10 ounces small manzanilla green olives stuffed with pimentos
- 14 ounces Juanita piquante peppers (or pimentos, or roasted red peppers)
- 16 ounces fresh mozzarella (cut into 36 cubes, about 3/4-inch each)
- 36 5-inch bamboo or wood skewers
Instructions
- Make the marinade: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine olive oil, orange zest and juice, garlic slices, rosemary sprig, and crushed red pepper flakes. Warm just below simmering for a couple of minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant. Remove from heat, stir in fresh parsley, then let the marinade cool completely.
- Prepare ingredients: Cut the fresh mozzarella into approximately 36 cubes, about 3/4-inch each. Place the mozzarella cubes, olives, and piquante peppers into a container or dish.
- Combine with marinade: When the marinade is at room temperature, pour it over the mozzarella, olives, and peppers. Gently toss to ensure all ingredients are coated evenly.
- Marinate: Cover the container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to 48 hours, stirring occasionally to redistribute the marinade and enhance flavor absorption.
- Assemble skewers: Using 5-inch bamboo or wooden skewers, thread ingredients in the following order: one olive, one pepper, one mozzarella cube, and finish with another olive.
- Serve: Arrange the skewers on a serving tray. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day before serving.
Notes
- The perfect appetizer to impress guests with minimal effort.
- Marinating allows the flavors to meld deeply, enhancing taste.
- You can substitute Juanita piquante peppers with roasted red peppers or pimentos for similar flavor profiles.
- Use fresh mozzarella for the best texture and taste.
- Store skewers refrigerated and consume within one day for optimal freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer (approx. 23 g)
- Calories: 93 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 331 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
