Burrata Tomato Salad

Inspired by Caprese salad, this creamy Burrata and Tomato Salad is perfect for easy entertainment, it feels effortless, yet looks impressive. 

This lineup of ingredients lets summer produce shine in a delicious way. A mix of juicy tomatoes, creamy burrata and an irresistible pesto dressing you will make this salad time and time again.

Ingredients

• Tomatoes: I love using heirloom tomatoes in this salad but a good beefsteak tomato is a great alternative. Using multi colored tomatoes is a great way to keep the salad interesting.
• Burrata: This creamy Italian cheese is has an irresistible creamy filling called stracciatella and a firm outer casing made out of mozzarella. I like to tear it open to reveal the creamy filling and spread it evenly around the salad.
• Pesto dressing: We are using pesto as a shortcut to create a dressing and highlight the tomatoes and burrata flavors.
• Olive oil: A drizzle of olive oil as the finishing touch. Use a high quality oil here.
• Red wine vinegar: This ingredient has 2 roles, it thins out the pesto and it adds zing to the dressing.
• Garlic: A finely grated garlic clove adds interest to the dressing with a nice zing.
• Basil: Another summer staple ingredient that is at its peak during this season. Adding fresh leaves lends a nice pop of flavor to every bite.
• Salt and pepper: Add a pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper to finish the salad. Make sure to add salt and pepper evenly.

How to Make this Burrata and Tomato Salad

Step 1: Make the dressing

Start with mixing the dressing ingredients to give them time to fully meld together. Make sure to taste it and adjust as needed, add more garlic if you desire. If you want to add a bit of heat, red pepper flakes are a great addition.

Step 2: Prepare the tomatoes

I like to slice my tomatoes about ½ inch thick to make it easier to serve and really absorb the pesto dressing. Use a serrated knife to cut the tomatoes to avoid smushing them.

Step 3: Arrange the tomatoes

I like to arrange the tomatoes and add about ⅔ of the pesto dressing before cutting the burrata and adding the basil leaves on top.

Step 4: Add the burrata

Tear the burrata ball apart and distribute the creamy filling and outer shell evenly among the tomatoes. Top with basil leaves.

Step 5: Finishing touches

The finishing touches bring every element together. I like to use a few pinches of flaky sea salt such as Maldon and freshly ground black pepper on the tomatoes and the burrata.

Serving suggestions

Serve this salad alongside grilled chicken or steak with some crispy smashed potatoes for an elegant meal that is simple and delicious.

For a simple lunch, try a slice of lightly toasted sourdough as a vehicle to hold those juicy tomatoes.