How Long To Marinate Fresh Mozzarella For A More Robust Flavor

For an appetizer that transports you straight to an Italian villa, look no further than marinated fresh mozzarella. Mozzarella is one of the most versatile cheeses in the world, known for its melty goodness on top of pizza or pasta dishes, but fresh mozzarella is entirely different from the shredded low-moisture kind. Pairing this soft, moist, fresh cheese with a flavorful marinade unlocks a whole world of cheesy, delectable flavor. This combination is easy to serve as an appetizer, toss in a salad, or simply snack on in the afternoon, and will make you feel like you're relaxing in the Tuscan sun.

Marinated mozzarella is easy to bring together in a flash, only requiring you to whip up a simple but flavorful marinade and toss it with the cheese — with that, the active prep work is done. But if you want to get the most out of this dish, you do have to set aside some time to allow the cheese to meld with the marinade. In other words, the longer, the better. If you're in a time crunch, though, the key to adding enough flavor is to marinate the mozzarella for at least 1 hour.

The easiest type of fresh mozzarella to marinate are pre-formed mozzarella pearls. These small balls of mozz can be bought at many grocery stores and are perfect for marinating, as they're bite-sized for easy eating, have more surface area for more flavor absorption, and can be stored easily in a jar or container. If you can't find mozzarella pearls, cutting a ball of the cheese into cubes works just fine. And if you're ambitious, you can even try making your own mozzarella.

Now, it's time to bring the flavor. You'll want to use a good-quality olive oil as the base of your marinade. From there, get creative with your choice of herbs and spices. If you've got a green thumb and have fresh herbs on hand, this is the perfect opportunity to use them. Chopped basil, parsley, thyme, or oregano are perfect choices for a classic Italian flavor profile. 

If dried herbs are all you have, they'll work in a pinch, too. Just make sure those dried herbs are only 1-3 years old, so they still have a lot of flavor. You can add some red pepper flakes for a spicy kick, and a few cloves of garlic never hurt. Salt and pepper are a must, as well. Mix the mozzarella together with your oil and spices, marinate for at least 1 hour, and you're ready to serve the soft and milky bites of cheese infused with rich olive oil and vibrant seasonings.

If you plan to store your marinated mozzarella to enjoy layer, it should last in the refrigerator for approximately 3-5 days, as the oil helps to preserve the soft cheese. And just like with any cheese, make sure to take the mozz out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature before serving. This also allowed the oil to liquefy again after solidifying in the fridge. You can serve and snack on the marinated mozzarella as-is, or serve it in a multitude of ways.

To create an easy, Caprese-inspired mozzarella and tomato salad, chop up some cherry tomatoes and mix with the marinated cheese. Add a bit more fresh basil on top to complete the Caprese trifecta. You can also top everything from pasta salad to homemade focaccia bread with these delectable bites of mozzarella. Or, make a finger-friendly appetizer of marinated mozzarella skewered with melon and cured meats, creating a perfectly sweet, savory, and creamy pairing. With just an hour of marinating time, you'll have robust, flavorful mozzarella ready to serve as you please.