Summer grill time certainly shouldn’t be limited to meats and burgers, bring on the tomatoes and sturdy halloumi or bread cheese for my Grilled Caprese Skewers.
“Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.”
~ Abraham Lincoln
and
“We are all feeding from each other, all the time, every day.”
~ Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
I’m not usually one to pepper my blog with inspirational quotes from famous/infamous people. And you absolutely won’t see me write, “According to Webster’s dictionary…” when I’m stumped on how to introduce a post, when the creative juices simply aren’t flowing. It’s just kind of the cheater way out in my opinion, but hey, I’m not judging. And besides, doesn’t everyone use Wikipedia now?
But for the reasons I have today, I thought these quotes fell into the appropriate category because they indeed describe the lack of originality, or at least the increasing commonality, of how recipes come about and how they’re shared.
I mean, how many different ways, really, are there to cook a burger or make a classic chicken divan casserole? And what about pound cake? Prime example of how ingredients can’t be copyrighted. It’s all in how you describe the process that makes it your own.
It’s one reason why this summer I’ve been posting more basic recipes, favorite recipes, because it’s summer and I for one am craving a little simplicity. Let’s blame it on the heat.
This week I had two recipes I was planning on posting. The first was for Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas. Okay, not an exactly revolutionary recipe I admit, but the recipe I was planning on sharing has its own spin, its own chutzpah to differ it from the rank and file. And it’s certainly shareable. But similarily as happened back when I posted my Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese and discovered a very close variation by a much, much more popular blogger, I was trolling my morning blogs and found this recipe for Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas, and this one for Chocolate Dipped Banana Pops, both at the top of my RSS feed, and it just didn’t feel right to post the same recipes again, right after these hit the waves of the www. It’s not a throw down afterall.
While I may not always be original, I do reserve a fraction of an ounce of pride not to be called an outright copycat. Or so I’d hoped before I decided upon my alternative recipe to post.
My other selection for this week’s post is my recipe for Grilled Caprese Skewers, one I’ve had in the ‘ready to be posted’ folder for a few weeks. While I was in Madison, WI judging the Grilled Cheese Academy’s 2013 Recipe Showdown contest, I visited a local cheese shop and saw this wedge of Carr Valley Bread Cheese. Firm in texture like a Greek haloumi cheese, inspiration struck and I knew immediately what I was going to make with it. Or grill with it. So I trotted it home with me and made these toasty grilled skewers that paired extremely well with Roasted Cherry Sangria for an evening in with the girls.
So when I linked over to the summer issue of Grate, Pair, Share—the online magazine created by Wisconsin Cheese—to check in on a few details for a giveaway I’m doing (yes, you do need to check back here on Friday) I just had to laugh when I saw nearly the identical recipe in its pages, created by the very talented Chung-Ah from Damn Delicious. After spying the beautiful photo, I couldn’t bear to look at the ingredients or the directions, so as not to compare our two variations. But you should definitely give it a gander and let me know what you think because it is pretty funny how close they are. And I sure hope she thinks so too.
Great minds…twice in one day.
I decided to go ahead and forge forward and post this Grilled Caprese Skewers recipe anyway, because we all put our own original spin on things we make and there’s plenty of room and reason for the many variations you’ll find in recipe creation land.
Like I’ve told my design students for the past 4 years, rarely do you come across an entirely original idea, more often it’s just a new way to package it.
And as evidenced by today’s post, originality doesn’t always strike twice.
A few things about this recipe:
Bread cheese and halloumi cheese are both firm in texture—a little bit squeeky to the bite—and have very high melting points, making it perfect for putting on the grill. I don’t recommend trying this with a regular mozzarella or you’ll end up with a cheese caprese milkshake melting away into the coals.
The cheeses are made with rennet so if you’re a strict vegetarian, be sure to check if your selection uses vegetarian rennet or traditional.
Don’t skip the garlic in the olive oil. It’s a keeper.
While there weren’t any leftovers to be had, this would be an amazing topper to pasta noodles or arugula (see links below.)
Grilled Caprese Skewers
Ingredients
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic sliced into thin pieces
- 8 ounces good quality french bread about 5 1-inch slices
- 12 ounces bread cheese Juustoleipa or halloumi cheese cut into 1-inch cubes
- 24 cherry tomatoes
- 24 basil leaves
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
-
If using wooden skewers, place in a bowl or shallow plate filled with 1 inch of water and soak for 20 minutes. If using metal skewers, set aside.
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Bring balsamic vinegar to medium heat in a small saucepan and cook for 20 minutes or until reduced by half. The vinegar is just right when it coats the back of a spoon. Cover with a lid and keep warm.
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In another small saucepan, add the extra virgin olive oil and the garlic cloves and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes or until the oil becomes fragranced with garlic. Remove from heat and brush both sides of the bread slices with the garlic infused oil. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes.
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Thread the skewers starting with a cube of bread, then cheese, then tomato and a basil leaf and repeat another time, ending with a cube of bread. Repeat with the rest of the skewers.
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Give each skewer another generous dab of the olive oil and then a sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
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Bring grill to high heat. Place skewers on grill rack and cook for 4 minutes or so, turning skewers every 30 seconds to 1 minute as the tomatoes begin to blister and the bread starts to toast and all sides are cooked evenly.
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Drizzle with reduced balsamic and serve. *If balsamic reduction begins to thicken, heat again over medium heat and stir until thinned.
And since I’m hoping you’re intrigued at the idea of what else this non-melty cheese is delish in, here are a few more grilled cheese goodies to consider adding to your recipe vault.
Martyna starts off thsi round up of squeeky goodness with a homemade version of this grillable cheese in Wholesome Cook’s Homemade Halloumi Cheese in Under an Hour.
Maria’s salad was one of the first I ever Pinned, and with good reason, thanks to Scandi Foodie’s Grilled Peaches and Halloumi Salad.
With just 5 base ingredients—including one of my favorite grilled veggies, eggplant—Sylvia brings her catering tricks back home for a rustic version of Feasting at Home’s Grilled Halloumi Salad with Mint.
Michelle felt the same way I did about adding some pasta to grilled cheese to round out a perfectly tasty summer dinner in Daily Waffle’s Halloumi and Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad.
Brian adapts a recipe from a Maria’s cookbook for a Greek grilled cheese inspired, ancient grain base dish of Leek Salad with Grilled Halloumi from A Thought for Food.
Kalyn proves once again South Beach doesn’t mean flavorless with Kalyn’s Kitchen’s Grilled Halloumi Cheese Skewers with Mushrooms and Sweet Onions.
The basics of a great caprese, stacked into an out of the ordinary dish. That’s when Peter made my day in Souvlaki for the Soul’s Heirloom Tomato and Halloumi Stacks.
Spicy chili dressing tops a salad perfect for make-ahead lunches in Simply Delicious’s Whole Wheat CousCous Salad with Halloumi and Roasted Sweet Potato.
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JC Carter says
July 30, 2013 at 4:54 amMust be the going thing, I have been in this mood to make all the dishes my mom used to make when i was growing up, you know meatloaf, chicken parmesan, shepard’s pie, chicken piccatta, etc., the american classics.
Charul @ Tadka Masala says
July 30, 2013 at 5:41 amThis is like two of my fav things together.. Caprese salad and paneer tikka. This is fusion food I tell you! :)
Belinda @themoonblushbaker says
July 30, 2013 at 7:01 amWOW! This flavour combo just scream summer. Well you know what they say great minds think alike, so you are great mind too!
Tieghan says
July 30, 2013 at 7:13 amI have never had bread cheese, but I am itching to try it. Especially if it is warm and grilled and covered in balsamic glaze! These look awesome Heidi and I love reading your thoughts on recipes and originality. It made me realize that not everything has to be completely out of the box!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
July 30, 2013 at 7:46 amThese skewers look like an awesome addition to most any summer meal, love your pairing with the cherry sangria. And…I love how BOTH you and Chung-Ah think! ;)
Jessica says
July 30, 2013 at 8:11 amMy daughter is a total carb fiend right now (aaand loves tomatoes). She’d love the caprese skewers sans balsamic but with pesto to dip in (because dipping makes fingers dirty and every 18 month old loves that!). So glad Wisconsin was able to inspire you ;)
[email protected] is How I Cook says
July 30, 2013 at 8:34 amLove halloumi. These all look great!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
July 30, 2013 at 9:02 amLook at that char on those babies, swoon!!
Giulia says
July 30, 2013 at 9:03 amSometimes it’s just better not to look around too much…it’s crazy how the web seems to go through similar cravings at the same time. While my recipes are definitely not original and usually based on an existing published recipe, I still find it crazy that others decide to make the same thing the same week.
These look lovely – as I’m sure your take on frozen bananas would have been. I think I’ll make this when we go on our beach vacation. Bread, cheese,basil, tomatoes…nothing can go wrong with this combination.
Whitney @ WhitneySociety says
July 30, 2013 at 10:27 amSo everything on this page looks absolutely delicious!
Thanks for posting!
-www.whitneysociety.com
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
July 30, 2013 at 10:40 amLove the look of that bread cheese. So pretty!!
Mary Frances @ LOVE - the secret ingredient says
July 30, 2013 at 11:15 amYes please! I’ll have all of the above! :)
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
July 30, 2013 at 11:23 amMy mouth is watering just thinking of this paired with a roasted cherry sangria… yeeeeesss, please! And I totally empathize with your words on originality — though I could honestly stare at a whole RSS feed full of recipes just like this one and not be mad. :)
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
July 30, 2013 at 11:44 amYes please, this is summer at its best!
Deborah says
July 30, 2013 at 3:33 pmI love everything about these – original or not!! :)
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
July 30, 2013 at 3:42 pmLoved this post Heidi. . glad you went ahead and posted it anyway. . your Caprese Skewers look delicious! and yes to roasted garlic in the olive oil. yes yes!! We are actually moving to Madison, WI for my husband’s job in a month or 2. . if you know any food bloggers out there you could help me connect with, I would really appreciate it! I’m not thrilled about leaving Seattle but the hubs got a better job so here we go. . fingers crossed.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
July 30, 2013 at 4:32 pmI would adore these over a nice bed of pasta! I think I may need to make that happen! I’m go so glad that you posted these anyways!! When I first started to really get into blogging I felt really bad because I wanted to blog about what we were eating and the things that I loved BUT I felt like every time I “just needed to Google this to see if it’s out there” I always got the same answer “YES” someone had already posted it, thought of it, created it, took beautiful pictures of it, so why even bother. But Then after listening to White on Rice talk at a conference one year it all kinda clicked. I mean people have been cooking for hundreds and hundreds of years….and that’s A LOT of recipes. haha. No matter what I cook, someone has already cooked it before me. So I’ve just got to share what Iove and tell my own story :) (and write you a novel in the comment section… sorry haha )
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
July 30, 2013 at 6:28 pmThese look fun- I’ve always wanted to try grilling Halloumi!
Sarah | The Sugar Hit says
July 30, 2013 at 9:35 pmSimple is definitely best when it’s hot! These look like heaven to me.
kelley says
July 31, 2013 at 8:13 amIn the often small and incestuous world of food blogging, it’s inevitable that recipes stay “original”. You could never been deemed a copy cat, my friend- it’s not in your nature. We all put our own spin on things and it’s how we make recipes our own and acknowledge that we find inspiration from one another that sets us apart. The only thing I’m upset about is I didn’t get an invite. I love me some grilled cheese.
Sandy Coughlin says
July 31, 2013 at 8:26 amI love this spin on caprese! Skewers. Genius!
cassie says
July 31, 2013 at 9:10 amThese are gorgeous! And I love the addition of the bread. Stunning photos, as always!
Emily says
July 31, 2013 at 5:52 pmI love caprese ANYTHING. And these look divine!
Jenna says
July 31, 2013 at 7:02 pmThis is such a fun way to do caprese salad!
Kristen says
July 31, 2013 at 7:54 pmHa – that always happens to me… but you know what, I’m so glad you went ahead and went for it and posted it :) Looks soooo good!
Kathy @ Olives and Garlic says
July 31, 2013 at 8:16 pmI agree with the very first sentence of this post. This is a fun idea
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
July 31, 2013 at 10:55 pmHoly moly. The things you do with cheese lady. I. Am. Obsessed.
Liz @ FloatingKitchen says
July 30, 2014 at 1:45 pmI love this post, Heidi. Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to post something because its “too simple” or “too ordinary”. But turns out, I usually get the best responses from some of those recipes. And funnily enough, I’m just working on a write-up now for a version of a caprese salad (that at first I thought was too tame and wasn’t sure if I should share it). And it does sometimes seem like we all have the similar ideas at once. But if you are cooking seasonally, I suppose it’s bound to happen! And frankly, I never tired of the classic. Especially cheese + bread + tomatoes! Cheers, Liz.
Pimenton says
June 26, 2016 at 11:16 amThese caprese skewers were great! I wish I had made more, everyone loved them. I found the bread cheese at Whole Foods. If your grill is very hot, watch them carefully, as they will get toasty very quickly.
heidi says
June 28, 2016 at 7:19 pmI’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment.
Shirley J. James says
January 10, 2017 at 9:17 amThese are gorgeous! And I love the addition of the bread. Stunning photos, as always!