This recipe for marinated mozzarella balls is so easy with just a few ingredients. A delicious appetizer on any buffet, a great afternoon snack, and a perfect addition to any cheese board!
Jump to:
Ingredients
This cheese appetizer is one of the easiest, and most delicious, we have ever made. Just a few simple ingredients, a little time in the fridge, and you are ready to impress!
- Fresh mozzarella balls - Use ciliegine, pearls, or a mix of both.
- Fresh herbs - Use a single herb or combination of herbs. We used fresh parsley, fresh thyme, fresh basil, and fresh chives.
- Olive oil - We love a good extra virgin olive oil for this dish.
- Some staples - Garlic, salt, and pepper round out this easy dish.
Mozzarella
Most stores now have different sizes of mozzarella balls. Any of the fresh mozzarella will work for this. We love the ciliegine mozzarella balls or pearl mozzarella balls. Ciliegine is a one bite size mozzarella ball. It usually comes in liquid and will have about 24 pieces in 8 ounces. Pearls are small and #adorable with 3 on a pick. They usually come in a package with no liquid and will have about 80 pieces in 8 ounces.
Our taste testers were split on which size they liked the most. They were both delicious. Some liked just a single bite with the ciliegine and some liked the smaller, multiple pearls.
This recipe also works great with mozzarella cubes or slices. Cut a larger, fresh mozzarella ball into bite size pieces or into ¼ inch slices and follow the recipe for the marinade.
Herbs
Use your favorite herbs or combination of herbs. Parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, or tarragon are just a few that are great.
Equipment
Picks. We do not recommend using colored toothpicks as the color can come off on the food. We like to use a reusable toothpick, but recognize if you are hosting a large party this may not be feasible. For large parties use a decorative toothpick when possible - like a bamboo knotted toothpick. These are found at most party stores, some grocery stores, or restaurant supply stores. Here are a few of our favorite pick sources.
- Wooden toothpicks - Least expensive and easy to get
- Knotted bamboo toothpicks - Inexpensive and easy to get at many locations
- Bamboo w/’pearl’ - Step up from basic pick and available at Amazon
- Metal cocktail pick - Most expensive option but reusable!
How to Serve Marinated Mozzarella Balls
These mozzarella balls in olive oil and herbs are great on a cheese board or just by themselves. We remove them from the oil and serve them in a small bowl. Place the picks in a small, high container like a shot glass, next to the dish of mozzarella balls.
Use mozzarella slices instead of balls. Follow the recipe but lay the slices in a shallow dish covered with the marinade. Serve on a platter with a basket of baguette slices and crackers.
Additions and Substitutions
This marinated mozzarella recipe is a great starting point. Add a small kick with some red pepper flakes. Include some kalamata olives, garlic cloves, or artichokes. A dash of red wine vinegar or red wine adds a hint of tangy flavor to the marinade.
Using Herb Oil After Marinating Mozzarella Balls
We don't serve the marinated mozzarella balls in the marinade and yet there is all this delicious herb olive oil left over. Toss it with cooked pasta and some parmesan cheese for a simple dish. Coat some veggies or potatoes before roasting them. Use it as a base for salad dressing.
Make Ahead Tips
These mozzarella balls want to sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Make them up to 5 days in advance.
Saving Leftovers
The FDA recommends discarding any perishable food that has been out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
If you are within the FDA recommendations, this will last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Some Other Favorite Cheese Appetizers
FAQ's
Yes you can! We like to freeze them before we marinate them, but you can also freeze after marinating. Remove from the olive oil and store in an airtight container. They will freeze for up to 3 months. Remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Yes they do. We always recommend "If ever in doubt, throw it out." However, you can do a few simple tests to see if the mozzarella is still good. Smell - there will be a sour smell with bad mozzarella. Look - if they are dried out they are no longer good. And of course, if there is any mold Throw. Them. Out.
📖 Recipe
Easy Marinated Mozzarella Balls
- Total Time: 24 hours + 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Fresh herbs and fresh mozzarella balls marinated in olive oil make an easy, quick appetizer.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine, pearls, or a combination)
- 1 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tablespoon fresh herbs, minced; parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, chives
- ¾ cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Drain liquid from the mozzarella balls, if necessary.
- To a container with an airtight lid, add garlic, minced fresh herbs, olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir or shake to mix well.
- Add mozzarella balls to the oil and herb mixture. Stir or shake gently to coat mozzarella. Add a little more olive oil if needed to make sure all of the mozzarella balls are in the oil.
- Cover and refrigerate at least a day and up to 5 days. NOTE: the oil will solidify while in the fridge - that’s ok!
- Remove from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving. This liquifies the olive oil again. Spoon the mozzarella balls into a serving dish.
- Serve with picks.
Notes
Mozzarella. We used both the ciliegine and pearl size mozzarella balls. For a single bite use the ciliegine. For a smaller bite, or multiple mozzarella balls on one pick, use the pearls. 8 ounces ciliegine is about 24 mozzarella balls. 8 ounces of pearls is about 80 mozzarella balls. NOTE: our taste testers were evenly split on what size they liked best.
Use mozzarella slices and serve on a platter with a basket of crusty bread.
Herbs. We used chives, basil, and thyme for our herb mixture but make this your own. Rosemary, parsley, dill, oregano, tarragon will all be great. Play with different combinations or use a single herb. If you don’t have access to fresh herbs, dried will also work, just reduce the amount to 1-2 Tablespoons.
Additions. Mix in some red pepper flakes with the herbs to spice this up a bit. Add kalamata or green olives and un-marinated artichokes hearts or quarters with the marinating mozzarella balls. Add a dash of red wine vinegar to the marinade for a hint of tanginess!
Leftovers. These marinated mozzarella balls are great tossed with some warm pasta. Add some of the herb and olive oil marinade for a quick sauce. Extra veggies like broccoli, peas, mushrooms, spinach, or kale are great additions for an easy dish!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Inactive Time: 24 hours
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 oz
- Calories: 101
- Sugar: 0.4 g
- Sodium: 210.7 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 5.1 mg
Comments
No Comments