Here’s a fun and easy appetizer recipe that takes just minutes of hands on time: Marinated Mozzarella Balls! You’ll be surprised by how quickly this comes together and how satisfying the flavors are for such little effort. Like many Italian-style appetizers, the genius is in its simplicity. Marinade fresh mozzarella balls in a mix of olive oil, chopped herbs and red pepper flakes, and the flavor is a burst of bold and herbaceous. It’s perfect as an antipasti or as part of a cheese board. We were pleasantly surprised on first bite, and it’s gone on to become one of our favorite ways to start a meal or impress at a party.
Ingredients in marinated mozzarella balls
This marinated mozzarella balls recipe requires just 7 ingredients and 5 minutes of hands on time. The hardest part? Waiting the 30 minutes for the mozzarella to marinate! Like many Italian recipes, the key to success here is quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need for this easy appetizer:
Ciliegine mozzarella ballsExtra virgin olive oilGarlic Fresh oreganoFresh parsley Kosher saltRed pepper flakes
What are ciliegine?
Ciliegine are small fresh mozzarella balls that are about the size of a cherry. The word “ciliegine” comes from the Italian word for cherry, hence the name! We prefer the ciliegine size here: bocconcini is a bit too large. You can also use “perlini” mozzarella, which are very small balls about the shape of pearls.
Tips for marinated mozzarella balls
This marinated mozzarella balls recipe couldn’t be simpler: make the marinade, add the mozzarella balls, and wait for 30 minutes! The flavor is actually pretty good right away, but it gets better over time. Here are a few tips for making the recipe:
Use the fresh oregano (don’t be tempted to substitute). Fresh oregano brings a bright, lemony and herbaceous flavor here that dried oregano can’t replicate. If you must you can substitute dried, but we recommend finding fresh if at all possible. Marinate at room temperature. Olive oil turns solid when cold, so you’ll want to keep this at room temperature while marinating. Serve immediately for best flavor, or store up to 3 days. The best way to eat marinated mozzarella balls is immediately after marinating: but they taste great the next day too. Just make sure to bring them to room temperature before serving, because the olive oil solidifies.
Serving suggestions
Making marinated mozzarella for a party? We suggest making it right beforehand and letting it sit at room temperature while you do other party prep. It’s so simple to put together, there’s not really a need to make it ahead. But if you’d like to do some advanced prep, you can always chop the herbs and garlic and refrigerate them until ready to prepare. What’s the best way to eat marinated mozzarella balls? Here are some ideas:
With breadWith crostini or crackersOn a cheese board, served with toothpicksPart of an antipasto platterOn a salad like Italian salad or chopped salad
Always serve with toothpicks or small forks
Remember to serve marinated mozzarella balls with a toothpick or small fork. Because they are marinated in olive oil, you’ll want to make sure there’s no risk of oil dripping on your guests clothing!
More easy appetizer recipes
Love entertaining and need some party snacks? Here are some of our favorite easy appetizer recipes:
Make up the Ultimate Antipasti PlatterTry easy Marinated Mushrooms or a retro-style Cheese BallGo for tasty and simple Olive TapenadeGrab Baked Goat Cheese Dip, Cranberry Goat Cheese or Blueberry Goat CheeseMake Caprese Flatbread or Margherita Flatbread
This marinated mozzarella balls recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten-free. 5 from 1 review
