Caprese Skewers Just Got a Fourth of July Upgrade

Fourth of July celebrations do not have to mean sacrificing fresh, wholesome food for the sake of festivity. These caprese skewers with blueberry balsamic glaze are proof that a showstopping appetizer can be as nutritious as it is patriotic, arriving at the table in a brilliant spread of red, white and blue that fits right in at any cookout or backyard gathering.

The best part is how little effort they require. Fresh cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, bright basil and juicy blueberries come together on a skewer in minutes, and a quick homemade blueberry balsamic glaze adds a sweet, tangy finish that elevates the whole thing from simple snack to crowd-pleasing starter. Whether you cut the mozzarella into star shapes for an extra patriotic touch or keep it simple with fresh mozzarella balls, this is one dish that looks like you spent hours on it without actually doing so.

Ingredients

For the caprese skewers:

• 24 cherry tomatoes, about 1 pint
• 1 16-ounce block of mozzarella cheese (if you want to make stars) or 12 balls
• 24 fresh basil leaves
• 24 fresh blueberries
• 12 6-inch wooden skewers

For the blueberry balsamic glaze:

• 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. On each wooden skewer, thread a blueberry, followed by tomato, basil leaf and mozzarella star (or ball), followed by another basil leaf, tomato and finished with a blueberry. Feel free to skewer these in any order you’d like.
2. To make the blueberry balsamic glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine blueberries, balsamic vinegar, honey and lemon juice, mixing well. As the sauce warms up, mash the blueberries with the back of a spoon or use a potato masher and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn the heat down a bit and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries have broken down and the mixture is reduced to half. The consistency should be syrupy.
3. Drizzle caprese skewers with blueberry balsamic glaze, serve and enjoy! Makes 12 caprese skewers.

This recipe was originally published on Eat Yourself Skinny.