Crunchy Shrimp Caprese Salad Bites are made with butterfly shrimp, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.
This recipe is sponsored by SeaPak. All opinions are my own.
Crunchy Shrimp Caprese Salad Bites
I like to spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer. It’s counterintuitive, I know. Here in Florida the temperature climbs into the mid 90’s on a daily basis. Don’t even get me started on the humidity! However, as the sun sets in the west, a nice breeze often kicks up. When this happens right after one of our famous afternoon thunderstorms, the result is a rapid cooldown with rain-freshened air swirling the heat away.
Once all that heat relents, no one wants to bring it back by cooking an elaborate meal when you could be sipping lemonade instead. I like to keep it light and simple with lots of salad variations. For example: I love caprese salad. So I made a variation that includes crunchy Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp from SeaPak.
These tasty little bites are perfect for a summertime meal or to serve as an appetizer at a party. All you do is bake the shrimp, remove the tails, then stack up the ingredients. Voila! A bite-sized caprese salad that hits all the best flavors: fresh tomatoes and basil, real mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, and seafood.
You can bring a plate outside and relax. Enjoy the evening air. Read a book or chat with your family. Do the things that make summer the best time of the year.
I picked up my SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp at Walmart, along with some Shrimp Scampi for later. It’s a good idea to stock up, because then you’ll always have some at the ready.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crunchy Shrimp Caprese Salad Bites
What kind of mozzarella should you use for caprese salad? Fresh mozzarella or buffalo mozzarella is best. Look for a round ball of mozzarella, not a block.
What should you serve with caprese salad? If you’d like to round out your meal, I recommend the following. Mix softened butter with a few shakes of garlic powder, a pinch of sea salt, and Italian seasoning, then spread it in between slices of a loaf Italian bread. Wrap in foil and place in a warm oven until the bread is crusty and the butter is melted.
Can you make caprese salad ahead of time? Nope, not really. It’s best when absolutely fresh. Make it and serve it immediately.
Did you know that the USDA recommends two 4-ounce servings of seafood per week? Adding shrimp to your caprese salad is a great way to start meeting that goal. And since SeaPak only works with the most responsible seafood suppliers, they’re an excellent choice for your family’s seafood meals. Follow SeaPak on Facebook and Instagram for more great seafood ideas.
Crunchy Shrimp Caprese Salad Bites
Crunchy Shrimp Caprese Salad Bites are made with butterfly shrimp, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 12 frozen breaded butterfly shimp SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella
- 2 Roma tomatoes
- 1 ounce fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
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Place the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to very gentle simmer while you cook the shrimp. The vinegar will reduce to about half its original volume and become thicker.
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Cook the frozen breaded butterfly shrimp according to the package directions. While the shrimp are baking, slice the Roma tomatoes to yield 12 round slices about 1/4 inch thick. Slice pieces of mozzarella to approximately the same size.
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When the shrimp are finished cooking, let them cool for about 3 minutes, then remove the tails. Assemble the crunchy shrimp caprese salad bites by layering a tomato slice, a piece of cheese, a shrimp, and a basil leaf. Garnish each bite with a few drops of reduced balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then serve immediately.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Company. The opinions and text are all mine.
chris
this is a crazy idea and i like it