Description
Celebrate Halloween with this spooky and delicious Halloween Caprese Salad featuring mozzarella skulls and dark cherry tomatoes, tossed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and garnished with fresh basil leaves. Perfect for a festive appetizer that’s both visually striking and flavorful.
Ingredients
Scale
Mozzarella Skulls
- 8 ounces mozzarella ciliegine
- Silicon skull molds (for shaping)
- Light oil or non-stick spray (for greasing molds)
Salad
- 1 pint black cherry tomatoes, halved (Kumato brown tomatoes are recommended for a more Halloween vibe)
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Mozzarella Skulls: Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease the interiors of silicon skull molds and set the molds on a rimmed baking sheet for stability. Place one ball of mozzarella ciliegine into each mold cavity. Bake for 6-8 minutes until the cheese softens but does not melt.
- Shape the Cheese: Carefully press the softened mozzarella into the mold using a folded paper napkin to absorb moisture and help form the shape. Press firmly to get detailed skull shapes, taking care not to burn yourself. Chill the molds in the refrigerator for 8-10 minutes until the cheese firms up. Remove the skull-shaped mozzarella from the molds. Repeat the process with remaining cheese until all mozzarella is shaped.
- Prepare the Salad: Slice the black cherry tomatoes in half. In a mixing bowl, combine the halved tomatoes and mozzarella skulls. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then gently toss to coat evenly.
- Garnish and Serve: Scatter fresh basil leaves over the salad and sprinkle with salt to taste. Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh flavors and festive presentation.
Notes
- Using Kumato brown tomatoes enhances the Halloween aesthetic with their darker color.
- Be careful when pressing the heated mozzarella into the molds to avoid burns.
- If silicon skull molds are unavailable, consider small flexible molds or shaping the cheese by hand into skull-like forms.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the texture of the mozzarella and tomatoes.
- You can chill the salad briefly before serving if preferred, but remove from fridge 10 minutes prior for best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
