To me, anything Caprese-inspired is a no-brainer appetizer. With sweet tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, bright basil, and zingy balsamic glaze, this refreshing salad has inspired countless mains, sides, and apps here at Delish. While I love our Caprese skewers, I decided to use one of my favorite store-bought ingredients (puff pastry, of course) to transform these classic flavors into a new, poppable app: baked Caprese bites. The puff pastry creates a flaky base that holds our Caprese-inspired filling. After baking, the pastry turns golden and buttery, the mozzarella gets melty, and the tomatoes turn extra sweet—I had about 4 of them right out of the oven.
The key to something so simple is a cliché, but the quality of your ingredients often matters more than the application or cooking method. Cherry tomatoes are the best, sweetest option. Your favorite fresh mozzarella, a balsamic reduction with quality ingredients, and your most-loved extra-virgin olive oil (these are our top olive oil brands) will all combine to create these bites. Add a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt for texture and flavor, and you’re ready to serve a crowd.
These are best eaten right warm and right away, but if you end up having leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
