Food and Prop Styling Renee Muller
Photography Hudi Greenberger

These adorable, ultra-tasty bites are loaded with all things good: fresh mozzarella, avocado, and roasted tomatoes, piled upon a crisp and flavored waffle crust to produce a most delicious dairy bite for a gourmet Shavuos appetizer or side.

I included a kid-friendly version of “pizza waffle bites” for those customers with a less sophisticated palate; they are delicious as well and you may want to double this recipe, as they’ll be gone before you blink!

YIELDS 20 MINI CAPRESE BITES AND 20 MINI PIZZA BITES

• 20 grape tomatoes, halved
• 5 frozen square waffles, each cut into 4 mini squares
• 4 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1 cube frozen garlic
• salt, for sprinkling
• 1⅓ ripe avocado, sliced
• 8 oz (225 g) fresh mozzarella, cut into 20 slices
• ½ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp confectioners’ sugar

Pizza Bites

• 5 frozen square waffles, each cut into 4 mini squares
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1 cube frozen garlic
• ⅓ cup pizza sauce
• 2 Tbsp ketchup
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped
• ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• dried basil, for sprinkling

For the caprese bites: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

Place tomato halves onto a lined baking sheet, spray with cooking spray, and roast until beginning to shrivel, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

Place waffle squares on a lined baking sheet. Combine butter and garlic and brush waffle squares generously with the mixture. Layer each waffle as follows: a slice of avocado, two tomato halves, a slice of cheese, and some chopped basil. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes.

While the waffles are baking, prepare balsamic reduction: Boil vinegar in a small pot for about 20 minutes, or until reduced and slightly syrupy. Add confectioners’ sugar and mix to combine. Remove reduction from heat and allow to cool. Remove waffles from oven and drizzle with balsamic reduction. Serve warm.

For the pizza bites: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Place waffle squares on a lined, greased baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic; brush over waffles. Combine pizza sauce, ketchup, Italian seasoning, and salt and spoon over waffles to fill surfaces. Sprinkle with chopped tomatoes, then cheese and basil. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is beginning to melt and then broil for an additional 3–4 minutes, until tops are golden and bubbly. Serve hot.

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 740)