Pesto Marinated Mozzarella Balls Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Keto)

This pesto Marinated Mozzarella Balls recipe is loaded with fresh herbs, spices, and a rich olive oil brine. A tasty appetizer or party side for your next Italian pasta night with friends or family.

This antipasto mozzarella is soaked in a pesto vinaigrette to upgrade plain mozzarella cheese balls. This appetizer would be great served on toothpicks, along side oven baked garlic bread crostini, or plant-based rosemary focaccia bread slices.

I love anything marinated in a herby, briny sauce – and this marinated mozzarella balls recipe is a fantastic way to upgrade store-bought cheese.  I made this recipe after having some extra pesto and mozzarella that I needed to use – and the combination was perfecto!

These pesto mozzarella cheese balls are a fantastic appetizer to serve on their own, a great snack, on homemade pizzas, or a way to elevate your next pasta night. You can use homemade or store bought pesto for this recipe, so make it easy!

This Marinated Mozzarella Balls Recipe Is:

• Bright
• Fresh
• Herby
• Savory
• Satisfying
• Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and Keto/Low Carb

A Great Make Ahead Cheese Appetizer for Entertaining

This marinated mozzarella cheese recipe is fantastic to make ahead of time for a party, potluck, or gathering. Making this recipe in advance allows you to skip any cooking or prep on the day-of. This is a great recipe to entertain with, or bring to an event. A crowd-pleaser that everyone is sure to love! Check out my other make ahead meals too.

What’s In This Pesto Marinated Mozzarella Cheese Recipe?

I stock up on organic produce with Misfits Market  – they have a fantastic selection of in-season fruits & veggies, healthy pantry items, and great food finds for a fraction of grocery store prices! You can get $10 off your first $30 box by clicking here!

• Fresh mozzarella balls –  I used this Ciliegine which means “cherry sized” in Italian. 
• Fresh pesto – I used my simple homemade recipe, but you can use a store-bought version too. No shame in using an easy button!
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity Zoe olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s really inexpensive online here, so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry.  For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value, I would highly recommend!
• Lemon Juice
• Fresh Basil – which I grow year-round in my Aerogarden
• Red Chili Pepper Flakes: for a little heat! I like to add a few shakes to this recipe to give this dish a nice complex depth of flavor.
• Tellicherry Peppercorns: It’s amazing the flavor difference you can get with really good tellicherry black pepper.  Amazon has a generic brand tellicherry peppercorn which is the same price is buying pre-ground, and will add way more flavor to your recipes.

Easily Grow Fresh Basil on Your Counter All Year Long

We got this great 6-Pod Aerogarden which is fantastic for growing herbs in the winter.  We actually got it when we lived in a smaller apartment, but even now that we own an acreage we still use it year-round!  I love growing herbs on my countertop like fresh basil, dill, mint, sage, thyme, parsley, and lemon balm. It uses LED lights and water, so no messy soil needed – you can have fresh herbs at your fingertips any time. I love picking a few springs of parsley to chop on pastas, adding basil leaves to soups, and tossing some dill in with my pasta salads. This Aerogarden is a great gift for anyone who would like fresh herbs… no big kitchen or green thumb required!

How Do I Marinate Mozzarella Cheese in Olive Oil and Pesto?

1. Drain the water from the mozzarella balls.
2. In a large mason jar, add the cheese, pesto, lemon, olive oil, basil, pepper flakes, and black pepper. Cover with additional olive oil until the mozzarella balls are completely covered.
3. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours before enjoying.
4. Remove mozzarella from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving, for the olive oil marinade time to come to room temperature.

More Simple Make Ahead Appetizers You’ll Love!

Tzatziki Pasta Salad (Gluten Free, Summer Side Dish)

Roasted Garlic Hummus Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Healthy Cucumber Salad With Greek Yogurt Recipe

Vegan Pasta Salad with Mayo Recipe (Egg & Dairy Free)

Chopped Chickpea Greek Salad Recipe (Vegetarian, Low Sodium)

Get the Same Ingredients for this Pesto Marinated Mozzarella Balls Recipe

As always, if you make this keto/low carb and gluten free pesto mozzarella cheese recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you.  I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

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Marinated Mozzarella Balls

Kelly Jensen

This pesto Marinated Mozzarella Balls recipe is loaded with fresh herbs, spices, and a rich olive oil brine. A tasty appetizer or party side for your next Italian pasta night with friends or family. This antipasto mozzarella is soaked in a pesto vinaigrette to upgrade plain mozzarella cheese balls. This appetizer would be great served on toothpicks, along side oven baked garlic bread crostini, or plant-based rosemary focaccia bread slices.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Italian

Servings 8 servings

Calories 145 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 8-ounce container mozzarella balls I used Ciliegine
• 1/3 cup pesto store-bought or homemade recipe below
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 lemon juiced
• 1/4 cup basil chopped
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon tellicherry pepper

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Instructions

 

• Drain the water from the mozzarella balls.
• In a large mason jar, add the cheese, pesto, lemon, olive oil, basil, pepper flakes, and black pepper. Cover with additional olive oil until the mozzarella balls are completely covered.
• Refrigerate for at least 12 hours before enjoying.
• Remove mozzarella from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving, for the olive oil marinade time to come to room temperature.

Notes

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Nutrition

Calories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 101mgPotassium: 26mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 325IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

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