Basil Marinated Mozzarella – Use Those Summer Herbs!
I’ve been enjoying making my own mozzarella lately. It’s my first foray into cheese making and has honestly been a bit more of a learning curve than I anticipated. But now that I have mozzarella down, I am loving marinating it in various concoctions.
One of the best parts about this is that it makes a great side dish or appetizer (or simple meal for one) without heating up the oven in the summer. Whether you want to pair it with wine for indoor dining with air conditioning, or have a simple appetizer for an alfresco dinner party, this is a great cool-you-down dish and takes about 5 minutes to make!
Variations on this Marinated Mozzarella
-You can add or change herbs here. If you have fresh parsley in your garden, that works well. Experiment with anything you normally like with mozzarella.
-Drizzle with a balsamic glaze right before serving. This gives it a delicious bite that makes it reminiscent of caprese salad.
-You can use those small mozzarella balls (called bocconcini) instead of sliced mozzarella logs and put them in a jar so they steep better in the marinade. This is fun and looks cute. I haven’t done it yet because I’ve been using homemade mozzarella and haven’t yet had the patience to make all those little balls.
-What I would NOT suggest is using regular mozzarella in a harder block. The fresh mozzarella absorbs the flavors of the marinade far better. You can usually find fresh mozzarella in your regular grocery store in a specialty cheese area.
How to Make Basil Marinated Mozzarella:
You aren’t going to believe how easy this is.
Combine the marinade ingredients in a shallow bowl, large enough to fit your basil log.
Add your sliced mozzarella on top, spooning marinade over the top and in between the slices.
Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, even better for a few hours.
Serve with crackers and enjoy during an alfresco dinner!
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy Using Your Summer Produce:
Summer Berries and Cocoa Cream
You might also be interested in these links to other places I am online:
My YouTube Channel – Plow & Pantry
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Passive Time | 15 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 1 pound fresh mozzarella log slice it thinly
- 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon finely sliced fresh basil
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon course ground black pepper
- crackers for serving
Ingredients
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Rate this recipe!
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- I like to put everything except the cheese straight into a large shallow bowl that I use to serve it. Mix it well.
- Add the sliced mozzarella on top and spoon the marinate over the top and in between the slices.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes to marinate. Serve with crackers. Lasts 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator (as long as your cheese isn't expired).