Marinated Mozzarella Balls

If you're a cheese lover, these marinated mozzarella balls are a scrumptious addition to your charcuterie board, or a fantastic savory snack paired with olives, salami or crackers. Prepared with fresh balls of mozzarella, which are marinated in a bold combination of olive oil, parsley, basil, oregano and thyme, plus lemon zest, garlic and roasted red peppers, this flavorful marinated mozzarella balls recipe is deliciously easy and elegant option to offer at your next get together!

An irresistible addition to your charcuterie board

Oh... do I adore a good charcuterie board, replete with a variety of cheeses and all sorts of tasty morsels such as olives, salami, fruit and crackers. It's like a feast for our eyes and our taste buds!

Whenever I put together a little board like this to enjoy with my hubby on a Friday evening at home, while sipping a glass of wine or tasty craft cocktail, or when I'm entertaining visiting family members, I'm always on the lookout for a new cheese option to surprise and tantalized our tastebuds with.

I'll often include either my garlic and herb cheese spread, my Mediterranean feta dip, my whipped goat cheese, or my baked brie with caramelized onions as part of a spread to accompany my marinated olives, salami and crackers.

But my latest beloved addition is my marinated mozzarella balls, or “ciliegine”, which are small balls of fresh mozzarella. And let me tell you... they take on a marinade fabulously and quite deliciously.

My marinated mozzarella balls recipe features good quality olive oil infused with a combo of fresh herbs including parsley, basil, oregano and thyme, plus lemon zest, roasted red peppers, garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.

The flavors are savory, earthy and bright, and make for a really elegant and mouthwatering option as part of a cheese board, or as a little snack in the afternoon with some crackers and olives!

My Recipe for Marinated Mozzarella Balls

When preparing this marinated mozzarella balls recipe, I like to use fresh, whole milk mozzarella for the creamiest and most delicious texture and flavor.

One could use a couple of larger balls of mozzarella here and cut or break them up into smaller chunks to make them easier to work with, but I love to use ciliegine, which are small balls of fresh mozzarella packed in a container with brine.

Ciliegine are the perfect size, easily one to two bites each, perfect to serve with toothpicks or tiny forks for convenience!

For the flavorful marinade, I use a combination of olive oil, parsley, fresh basil, oregano and thyme, some garlic, lemon zest, diced strips of roasted red peppers (or even multi-colored peppers), plus a small pinch of red pepper flakes for kick.

This aromatic mixture is added to the mozzarella balls, which I've removed from their brine, and allowed to absorb these bold flavors for at least a few hours, preferably a day or so if I'm making ahead.

The result is an elegant, colorful and scrumptious cheese appetizer that's irresistible to all cheese lovers!

Here's a glance at my marinated mozzarella balls recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I drain my mozzarella balls of the brine that they're packed in, then place them into a large bowl.
2. I then mix together my combination of chopped herbs, lemon zest, diced roasted red peppers, garlic and red pepper flakes, then pour in my olive oil to form an aromatic marinade.
3. Next, I pour this herby oil over my ciliegine (or little mozzarella balls), and mix gently with a large spoon to coat everything well in the flavorful marinade.
4. I then cover and allow the cheese to marinate, in the fridge, for at least several hours, even a day or two ahead of when I'd like to serve the marinated mozzarella balls.
5. When ready to serve, I spoon the mozzarella balls into a serving bowl or glass jar, drizzle on some of the oil and herbs, then bring the cheese to room temp for about 30 minutes to soften the oil if cold and thick. I serve with tiny forks or toothpicks for convenience.

Recipe

Marinated Mozzarella Balls

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

These zesty marinated mozzarella balls are flavored with a combination of four fresh herbs, garlic, lemon and roasted red peppers!

Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian-American

Yield: Serves 8

Nutrition Info: 117 calories per serving (about 3 mozzarella balls)

Prep Time: 15 minutes (does not include marination time)
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces mozzarella balls (or “ciliegine”), drained of brine
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped basil
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped oregano
• 2 teaspoons thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 (heaping) tablespoons diced roasted red peppers (or multi-colored peppers)
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• ¾ cup olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. Place the drained mozzarella balls into a medium-large bowl.
3. Into another smaller bowl, add the chopped herbs, lemon zest, diced roasted red peppers and garlic, then pour in the olive oil. Add the salt and the pinch of red pepper flakes (if using), an use a fork or spoon to mix the ingredients together with oil until fairly well blended.
4. Pour this marinade over the mozzarella balls, and use a larger spoon to very gently combine things together until the cheese is very well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the fridge for 24 hours if possible, or at least 2 to 3 hours.
5. When ready to serve, spoon the mozzarella balls into a serving dish drizzled with some of the marinade, and allow them to come to room temp for about 15 minutes. Serve with toothpicks or small forks for easy pick up, along with other items such as salami, olives, crackers, toasted baguette, nuts, dried or fresh fruit, if desired.

Tips & Tidbits for my Marinated Mozzarella Balls recipe:

• Fresh mozzarella balls, or ciliegine: Opt for fresh mozzarella here, for the creamiest texture and flavor. Fresh mozzarella also seems to absorb the marinade a little better than “block” mozzarella. When buying fresh mozzarella, you can use several larger boules, or look for “ciliegine”, which are the smaller balls of fresh mozzarella packed in brine.
• A flourish of four fresh herbs, or your favorite type: For this marinade I'm using fresh basil, parsley, oregano and thyme, which offers really delicious and balanced bouquet of herby flavor to the mozzarella. You can use any combination of these herbs, or even just one or two, or use your own favorite herb combination instead for a unique flavor profile.
• The longer the mozzarella marinates, the better the flavor: I recommend prepping these at least a day ahead of when you'd like to serve them, ideally. If they have a day or two to marinate in the fridge, the bolder the flavor will be. And if you're pressed for time, simply marinate the mozzarella for at least a couple of hours.
• How to serve marinated mozzarella balls: Once marinated, I like to spoon the mozzarella balls into a serving bowl with some of the marinade drizzled over top. I provide toothpicks or small forks for easy eating. You can serve them alongside salami, marinated olives, crackers, or even toasted baguette.
• How long will marinated mozzarella balls stay fresh: Typically, these will keep well for a week or even a little longer, as long as you keep them in a covered container and cold in the fridge.

Craving more delectably cheesy recipes like this? Check out my Cheese Ball recipe, or my recipe for Baked Brie with Caramelized Onions, Garlic and Herbs Cheese Spread, Whipped Goat Cheese, or even my recipe for Mediterranean Feta Dip!