Caprese Skewers with Roasted Red Bell Peppers

Caprese Skewers with Roasted Red Bell Peppers

These Caprese Skewers with Roasted Red Bell Peppers are a delightful and nutritious finger food option. This gluten-free recipe combines the classic Italian Caprese flavours with an added twist of roasted red bell peppers. The skewers are vibrant, colourful, and easy to prepare, making them an ideal choice for busy parents and caregivers of children.

Serves:  10 skewers

Dietary: Suitable for vegetarians, coeliac, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free

Contains: Milk (mozzarella balls), sulphites (balsamic glaze)

Preparation time: 10 minutes

 

INGREDIENTS
1 cup (20 g) baby spinach leaves
1 cup (20 g) fresh basil leaves
10 (150 g) cherry tomatoes
15 (150 g) fresh mozzarella balls, cut into half
1 whole red bell peppers
1 Tbsp olive oil
10 wooden skewers
Optional: Balsamic glaze

 

METHOD

  1. Preheat oven to 170 oC/150 oC Fan/325 oF/Gas Mark 3.
  2. Wash the red bell pepper and cut into cubes.
  3. Place the grease-proof (heat-proof) paper on a baking tray and place the washed bell pepper on top.
  4. Drizzle the bell pepper with 1 Tbsp oil and place it in the oven.
  5. Wash and pat dry the spinach leaves and basil leaves.
  6. Wash the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half.
  7. Unpack 100 g mozzarella and cut into desired size. If using mozzarella balls, cut in half.
  8. Once the peppers are roasted, remove them from the oven and let them cool.
  9. Once cooled, thread a ½ cherry tomato, a basil and spinach leaf, ½ mozzarella ball, a pepper slice, a spinach and basil leaf, ½ cherry tomato, a basil and spinach leaf, ½ mozzarella, a slice of pepper, a spinach and basil leaf, ½ mozzarella onto each skewer.
  10. Repeat the process nine times so there are ten packed skewers.
  11. Arrange the skewers on a platter.
  12. Optional: Drizzle balsamic glaze over the skewers.

 

This recipe was donated by Anya Lewonowski, a student nutritionist at Oxford Brookes University.

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Per serving: per skewer
Total calories: 56 kcal
Fat:  3.9 g
 of which saturates:  2.0 g
Carbohydrate: 1.5 g
 of which sugars: 1.3 g
Fibre:  0.6 g
Protein:  3.3 g
Salt:  0.12 g

 

NUTRITION FACTS

  • The combination of vegetables on these Caprese Skewers provides a good source of vitamin B (folate) and vitamin C for growing children aged 5 to 11.
  • These skewers are an excellent way for children to eat more vegetables.
  • This dish is low in sugar and salt.

 

VARIATIONS

  • Lactose-Free: Replace mozzarella balls with lactose-free cheese.
  • Vegan: replace fresh mozzarella balls with vegan cheese alternatives or marinated tofu cubes for a vegan-friendly version of the skewers.

 

Consumer Tested by Alice Cullinane, Student Nutritionist, Atlantic Technological University

Checked by Kathy Lewis, R.Nutr.,

 

© 2023 The Caroline Walker Trust