Tomato Appetizer On a Stick

Think of these as caprese skewers with a healthy streak: cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, spinach, and onion, all stacked on a toothpick for a tidy, two-bite appetizer.

The trick that lifts them above a plain cheese-and-tomato pick is the marinade. Tossing everything in balsamic vinegar and garlic powder before threading lets the flavors soak in, so each layer carries that sweet-tart, garlicky tang instead of tasting like bare ingredients.

Cut the components to roughly the same size as the tomato rounds, as the recipe notes, so the skewers hold together neatly and look sharp on the platter.

Use fresh deli mozzarella, not the firm shrink-wrapped block. Its soft, milky texture is the whole point, balancing the acidity of the balsamic and the bite of the raw onion.

Kitchen Tips

• Marinate the ingredients briefly before assembling so the balsamic and garlic flavor soaks into each piece.
• Keep the slices uniform in size so the skewers stay balanced and easy to eat.
• Pat the marinated pieces dry before threading so they don’t drip on the serving plate.
• Assemble shortly before serving so the spinach stays perky and the mozzarella fresh.

Variations

• Swap the spinach for fresh basil leaves for a more classic caprese flavor.
• Drizzle with a balsamic glaze and a little olive oil just before serving.
• Add a folded slice of prosciutto or a marinated olive to each skewer.