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Combine rich and creamy burrata cheese, fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves for a quick summer side dish worthy of weeknight meals and weekend gatherings. This Burrata Caprese is ready in 10 minutes or less and features all the best summer produce has to offer.
Looking for more recipes with burrata? Try burrata pasta or peach burrata salad.
What is a Caprese Salad?
A classic Caprese salad is a traditional Italian salad showcasing 4 key ingredients: ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, fresh mozzarella cheese, and extra virgin olive oil. I
t is a simple yet vibrant dish that highlights the quality and freshness of its ingredients. The name “Caprese”, or insalata caprese, originates from the island of Capri in Italy.
What the Heck is Burrata?
Burrata is a soft Italian cheese made with cow’s milk. It features a unique contrast between its soft, creamy center and the solid outer shell of fresh mozzarella. The inside is a mixture of cream and mozzarella.
You may wonder, can you eat all parts of burrata? Yes, you can and absolutely should eat every bit of it. When you cut into a ball of burrata, the creamy filling spills out, creating a luscious and indulgent experience.
Love Burrata? Try this simple Burrata Pasta or Peach Burrata Salad.
This Burrata Caprese Salad Is:
- Quicker than many salads and sides – no cooking, peeling, and minimal chopping.
- The ultimate summer salad thanks to fresh summer produce.
- A great side for cookouts because it’s great served at room temperature. It’s also easy to travel with like cucumber tomato avocado salad.
- The star of any meal, unless your main dish is as good as this Boursin Chicken. Then it’s a tie.
- A fun twist on the traditional Caprese salad—fresh burrata cheese and a quick basil vinaigrette.
Want to share a few summer sides with your family and friends? Fire up the grill and make a grilled zucchini salad or easy grilled peach salad.
Grab Your Simple Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients for this burrata pasta. They’re easy and affordable to find in grocery stores. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
Burrata Caprese Ingredients
- Burrata Cheese: this is the star of the show. It adds richness and a creamy texture to the salad. Our local grocery store keeps it in the fine cheese section near the produce. It’s usually by fresh mozzarella, feta, and goat cheese.
- Fresh Summer Tomatoes: We tested this several times and decided using a variety of tomatoes in different shapes and sizes yields the best results. Try a mixture of grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and juicy heirloom tomatoes. You can’t go wrong with any fresh tomatoes from the garden!
- Basil: The aromatic and slightly peppery flavor of basil complements the other ingredients.
- Olive Oil: good olive oil takes a Caprese salad to the next level. Olive oil enhances the flavors of the cheese, tomatoes, and basil while providing a silky and fruity richness to the dish. Use it in the dressing and drizzle a little bit extra on top.
- Black pepper and flaky sea salt: to enhance the flavor and finish the dish.
Basil Vinaigrette
This is not part of a traditional Caprese salad, but neither is Burrata, so we’re getting creative and adding a simple dressing. Don’t feel like making it? Top the salad with a balsamic reduction instead or plain with kosher salt and olive oil works too. Here are the simple ingredients:
- Oil and vinegar
- Honey
- A finely chopped shallot.
- Lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and kosher salt.
- Fresh basil, of course!
Do you have extra basil? Make some strawberry basil popsicles to finish the meal.
How to Make Burrata Caprese
The full caprese recipe is below, but let’s walk through the steps with some photos and a video so you have a clear idea of what to expect. This is a really simple recipe, but these step-by-step instructions will make sure it turns out every time.
Video: Watch How to Make It
Add all of the basil vinaigrette ingredients to a glass jar with a lid and shake it well until it’s emulsified. Store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve the salad.
Slice the tomatoes and arrange them on a serving platter. Turn the large heirloom tomatoes on their side and cut them into thin rounds. Slice the grape and cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise and/or crosswise.
Pro tip: use a serrated knife to cut tomatoes.
Break the balls of burrata open and place them on top of the tomatoes. You could also break it into smaller pieces to make it easier to feed a crowd.
Sprinkle fresh basil leaves on top and sprinkle with flaky salt. Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette on top right before serving.
Looking for a simple summer dish to get on the dinner table fast? Try an easy chicken marinade and grill it in under 15 minutes.
Recipe FAQs
Similar to mozzarella, burrata pairs well with tomatoes and basil. Beyond that, a few other ingredients that complement burrata include fava beans, bread, peaches, pesto, and plums. All of these ingredients would make for great substitutions! For a heartier pairing, try prosciutto, parma ham, grilled vegetables, or pasta.
While there is no exact substitute for the unique texture and flavor of burrata, there are a few cheeses that come close in terms of creaminess and richness including fresh mozzarella, Stracciatella, and creamy ricotta.
Enjoy Burrata by spooning it by tearing it open or cutting it into smaller pieces. You can scoop it onto crusty bread or use your fork to cut into it when it’s on salads, antipasti, or pasta.
Storage Tips
Store leftover burrata Caprese in an airtight container for up to 2 days. it will be ok with the dressing on but I recommend storing the dressing separately if possible. Burrata is best served at room temperature so allow it to sit out for 10-15 minutes prior to serving again.
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
More Recipes for Tomato Season
Take a simple pasta salad to a barbecue like this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad and Caesar Pasta Salad.
Put a sweet twist on this recipe with this Peach Burrata Salad.
Highlight even more vegetables and make this quick Summer Corn Salad, Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad, or Grilled Zucchini Salad.
Burrata Caprese
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Ingredients
Basil Vinaigrette (Note 1)
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup champagne or red wine vinegar (Note 2)
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1/2 finely chopped shallot (Note 3)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
Burrata Caprese Salad
- 3-4 cups of sliced tomatoes all shapes and sizes (whatever is fresh)
- 8 ounces of fresh burrata cheese broken in half or quarters
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- Flaky sea salt to taste
- Crusty bread for serving optional
Instructions
- Add all of the basil vinaigrette ingredients to a glass jar with a lid and shake it well until it’s combined. Store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve the salad.
- Slice the tomatoes and arrange them on a platter. Break the balls of burrata and place them on top of the tomatoes.
- Place the fresh basil leaves on top and sprinkle with sea salt. Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette on top right before serving.
Notes
Video
Equipment
- Serving platter
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
