YIELDS:
8 servings
PREP TIME:
COOK TIME:
TOTAL TIME:
ingredients
4 Large Fresh strawberries, hulled and cut in half
8 Large Chunks Fresh pineapple
8 Fresh Basil leaves
4 Wedges semi-soft cheese or the cheese of your choice
DIRECTIONS
2) Wrap a basil leaf around each cheese wedge and skewer on a four-inch skewer. Add a pineapple chunk and a strawberry half. Do this until you have 8 skewers. Place them on a platter.
3) In a small saucepan, bring the balsamic vinegar to a boil. Immediately take off the heat and let cool. The vinegar will thicken as it cools into a sweet and delicious glaze.
NOTES: This is the fastest and easiest appetizer ever. My pineapple, strawberry and basil bites are assembled using the freshest fruit and basil and the cheese of your choice.
In this recipe, I used Laughing Cow wedges. I was looking for a low calorie option for my guests who were all watching their waist lines and this cheese choice worked best for them. Using cubes of cheddar, Swiss, smoked gouda or brie would all be good substitutions. You can literally pull this together in five minutes and your guests will love them. They look fabulous and the sweet and tangy fruit go great with the basil and that drizzle of pineapple balsamic vinegar brings it all together.
I used a pineapple flavored balsamic vinegar from Patricia and Paul, but if you don’t have that substitute regular balsamic vinegar that you cook down to a glaze or you can even buy the glaze already made at the grocery store. No balsamic vinegar? Try honey or agave as alternatives. They would all work just great in this recipe.
One note on the strawberries, it is summer in Southern California and they are just beautiful! Big, ripe and juicy. You don’t want to make these with frozen fruit…it won’t work. The fruit will be soggy and too soft. If you want to make it in different seasons, try a mix of what ever fruit is fresh and in season. Back to the strawberries. You want to remove the green tops and you want to cut out the tough hull at the end. You can buy a strawberry huller or you can use a small, sharp paring knife to cut around it and just pop it out.
You can prepare these in advance and plate them. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve and drizzle with the cooled balsamic glaze right before serving.
Looking for other fast and easy appetizer ideas? Try some of my favorites:
