Burst Tomato and Mozzarella Spread made with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, fresh garlic, and olive oil, is a cozy and hearty appetizer.
Quick and easy to make, you'll love this hot Caprese combination of roasted cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, with just a hint of garlic and basil. Every bite is a perfect balance of tangy, cheesy, and savory.
Served with a choice of crostini, hearty crackers, or rustic bread to spread it on, it's an ideal appetizer for your next Italian dinner night, game day gathering, or summer get-together.
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Why You'll Love This Burst Tomato and Mozzarella Spread Recipe
- Delicious, Fresh Tasting, Warm Appetizer.
- Only 5 Ingredients.
- Quick and Easy to Make - Only 10 minutes of Prep Time.
- It is Vegetarian.
About This Recipe
I love tomato with cheese and I bet so do you! There is something comforting about that combination; whether it is a simple grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup or rustic baked lasagna, cheese and tomato is my happy meal. I love tomatoes so much I also love growing them!
Years ago, I began baking a very simple burst tomato spread with garlic, olive oil, and fresh cherry tomatoes from my garden. After a quick assembly and baking, my husband and I would spread it over toasted French bread while we waited for the main meal to cook on the barbecue. It was a great way to celebrate summer and use a bumper crop of tomatoes.
Flash forward to just a couple of years ago, I was browsing the cheese counter and met a lady who was buying mozzarella pearls. I had not seen this version of mozzarella before, so I asked her how she used them and she told me about this spread and how her family loved and ate every single bite of it.
The minute she said it was only cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and that pearl cheese, I already connected it to my recipe for a burst cherry tomato spread.
It turns out this is a hot version of the classic Caprese Salad recipe, which goes by many names like Hot Caprese Dip, Caprese Salad Dip, and Tomato and Mozzarella Dip. It is so popular that there are all sorts of other names for tomato, mozzarella, and basil dips and spreads that are simply baked tomato and cheese.
Cheesy tomato goodness! Doesn't that sound delish? Great!
So, let's cook!
Ingredient Notes
Here's what you need to make this Burst Tomato and Mozzarella Spread:
- Cherry Tomatoes - You can use round cherry tomatoes or grape ones. Round cherry tomatoes are typically juicier, while grape cherry tomatoes are less.
- Mozzarella Pearls - These are small marble-sized balls of mozzarella cheese.
- Fresh Garlic - Do not substitute jarred. Fresh is best for this recipe.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Every ingredient counts in this recipe. So, use a great-tasting, fruity olive oil. I like an extra virgin cold pressed olive oil for this recipe.
- Fresh Basil Leaves - You only need a few leaves of basil that are finely cut, chiffonade style to add a small amount of herbal flavor and beautiful visual interest.
For Serving:
Spread warm on Crostini, Melba Toasts, Hearty Crackers, or Rustic Bread.
Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat. Preheat oven to 450°F. Drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom of a medium-sized baking dish. Peel and cut garlic cloves in half and set aside.
Combine in Baking Dish. Arrange whole cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and halved garlic cloves in a single layer. Drizzle with remaining olive oil.
Bake. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly, the garlic is tender, the cheese is melted, and the tomatoes are slightly charred and have burst.
Garnish and Serve. Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, and sprinkle the top with basil chiffonade.
Serve warm. Let guests spoon or spread the dip over crostini, melba toasts, hearty crackers, or rustic bread.
My Top Tip
♡ Because this spread has only 5 ingredients, choose only the best to make the most delicious-tasting spread!
Substitutions & Variations
- Omit the Garlic. Not everyone loves garlic; fortunately, this spread is so flavorful you can omit it.
- Add Balsamic Vinegar. For a burst of sweet and sour flavor, after baking drizzle a teaspoon or two of balsamic vinegar over the spread before sprinkling it with the basil chiffonade.
- Vegan. Omit the mozzarella pearls. Bake until the tomatoes are split and lightly blistered.
Make-Ahead, Storage, & Reheating Instructions
Make Ahead. You can assemble this dish to the point of baking it, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and bake it later in the day.
Storage & Reheating. This recipe is not ideal for reheating and is best when freshly baked. Luckily, it is so delicious you won't have any leftovers!
♡ Did you love this Burst Tomato and Mozzarella Spread? Please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how things went in the ✍ comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Burst Tomato & Mozzarella Spread
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Ingredients
- 16 Ounces Cherry Tomatoes, (2 Packages)
- 8 Ounces Mozzarella Pearls, (1 Package)
- 6 Garlic Cloves, Peeled and Halved
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Divided
- Fresh Basil Leaves, Cut Chiffonade
For Serving:
- Crostini, Melba Toasts, Hearty Crackers, or Rustic Bread
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat oven to 450°F. Drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom of a medium-sized baking dish. Peel and cut garlic cloves in half and set aside.6 Garlic Cloves, 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Combine in Baking Dish. Arrange whole cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and halved garlic cloves in a single layer. Drizzle with remaining olive oil.16 Ounces Cherry Tomatoes, 8 Ounces Mozzarella Pearls
- Bake. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly, the garlic is tender, the cheese is melted, and the tomatoes are slightly charred and have burst.
- Garnish and Serve. Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, and sprinkle the top with basil chiffonade. Serve warm. Let guests spoon or spread the dip over crostini, melba toasts, hearty crackers, or rustic bread.Fresh Basil Leaves, Crostini, Melba Toasts, Hearty Crackers, or Rustic Bread
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
Encharted Cook™ or Jan Nunes shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on this website or actions you take as a result.
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Jan Nunes says
My family and friends love this tomato and cheese spread! It is so tasty when spread on small toasts or set out as a dip with sturdy pita chips.