What makes a great party appetizer is something you can prepare at the last minute and while these California Fig Skewer appetizers involve infusing the cheese and California Figs ahead of time, assembly is quick and easy. Besides, who doesn’t love easy Mediterranean appetizer recipes, especially ones that pair perfectly with red wine?
The Marinade
Mix wine vinegar, honey, salt and crushed red pepper dissolving honey and salt with parsley, thyme, garlic, and olive oil. The marinade is a bit savory, spicy, and a little sweet.
Fig Skewers + More Easy Mediterranean Appetizer Recipes
This appetizer is as easy as making marinade and letting the figs steep overnight or up to two days. That’s it. And, also makes it a great candidate for the holidays. All it takes is using tiny skewers to thread the marinated figs and mozzarella cheese balls, red pepper, and green onion pieces with chopped salami.
Other easy Mediterranean appetizer recipes include black olive fig spread, herb-marinated Mission Figs, and Mediterranean pita nachos.
Appetizers for Red Wine
Antipasti platters are easy to pull together. Add in vegetables—we like artichoke hearts, spears of bell peppers (a mix of orange, red, and yellow are nice and colorful). Of course, olives and several types of salty pressed meats, and adding California Fig Skewers brings all of those items together.
California Fig Skewers Appetizer
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme chopped
- 2 cloves garlic smashed
- 2/3 cup olive oil
Skewers
- 16 bamboo skewers
- 16 Blue Ribbon® Orchard Choice® or Sun-Maid® California Figs stemmed
- 16 mozzarella balls drained and patted dry on a paper towel
- 1 red pepper cut into 16 pieces
- 16 pieces green onion 2" lengths
- 16 pieces dry Italian salami or whole pitted olives
Instructions
- Make marinade: In a small bowl, combine wine vinegar, honey, salt and crushed red pepper. Stir to dissolve honey and salt. Stir in parsley, thyme, garlic and olive oil. Transfer half of marinade to a separate bowl. Stir Figs into one bowl; add 1 tablespoon water. Combine cheese and remaining marinade. Cover both bowls and chill for 8 hours or up to two days, stirring occasionally.
- To assemble skewers, Drain Figs and cheese, reserving marinade and discarding garlic. Alternate one of each item (Fig, cheese ball, bell pepper, green onion and salami or olive onto each skewer. For larger skewers, alternate two of each item on each skewer.
Notes
- If you don’t have small appetizer-size skewers use longer ones and thread 2 pieces of each ingredient onto each.
- Cut dry salami into 4 (¼-inch) slices. Then cut each slice into 4 quarters.
Recipe and photo by Lorelle Del Matto
Recipe and photo by Lorelle Del Matto
