What better way to welcome the warmth of summer and the vibrancy of spring than with a dish that encapsulates both beauty and flavor? This delightful Tomato and Burrata Salad is an exquisite culinary creation that promises to be a refreshing, flavorful, and visually stunning centerpiece for any meal. Its effortless preparation and incredible taste make it an instant favorite for both casual family dinners and elegant entertaining.
This simple yet sophisticated Burrata Salad is a celebration of seasonal produce, combining the inherent sweetness of ripe, colorful tomatoes with the peppery bite of fresh baby arugula. The star of the show, dreamy, creamy burrata mozzarella, elevates the entire dish, offering a luxurious texture that beautifully contrasts with the crisp greens and juicy tomatoes. It’s a gorgeous dish that tastes even better than it looks, perfect for sharing with loved ones or impressing your most discerning guests.
If you’re seeking to expand your repertoire of delicious and easy-to-make salads, you might also enjoy exploring other vibrant options. Discover the bright and fruity notes of my Avocado Mango Salad, a tropical escape in every bite, or delve into the hearty and satisfying flavors of my Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, packed with wholesome goodness. Each offers a unique taste experience, ensuring there’s a perfect salad for every mood and occasion.
Why This Tomato and Burrata Salad is an Absolute Must-Try
There are countless reasons why this Tomato and Burrata Salad will quickly become a cherished recipe in your kitchen. Beyond its undeniable deliciousness, it offers a perfect blend of simplicity, elegance, and wholesome goodness. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:
- Explosion of Fresh Flavor: Each forkful is a symphony of taste. Bursting with the natural sweetness of ripe heirloom and cherry tomatoes, the subtle kick of peppery arugula, and the indulgent creaminess of burrata, all harmonized by a simple yet potent lemon-infused dressing. It’s a vibrant, clean taste that truly captures the essence of fresh, quality ingredients.
- Effortless Preparation: Don’t let its gourmet appearance intimidate you. This salad is remarkably easy to assemble, requiring minimal cooking and only a handful of readily available ingredients. It’s the ideal dish when you want to create something impressive without spending hours in the kitchen, making it perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous gatherings.
- Picture-Perfect Presentation: This salad is a feast for the eyes as much as it is for the palate. The medley of colorful tomatoes, the pristine white of the burrata, and the deep green of the arugula create a stunning visual display. It’s an artful presentation that makes it an excellent choice for entertaining, guaranteed to elicit compliments from your guests.
- Perfect for Any Occasion, Especially Summer: While delightful year-round, this salad truly shines during the warmer months. Its light, refreshing nature makes it the ultimate companion for summer barbecues, picnics, or a delightful al fresco dining experience. It’s a versatile dish that can serve as a light lunch, an elegant appetizer, or a vibrant side dish to grilled meats or fish.
- Wholesome and Nutritious: Packed with fresh vegetables, healthy fats from olive oil, and protein from burrata cheese, this salad is not only delicious but also contributes to a balanced diet. It’s a guilt-free indulgence that nourishes your body while delighting your taste buds.
Key Ingredients for Crafting the Perfect Burrata Salad
The beauty of this salad lies in the quality and freshness of its components. Selecting the best ingredients will significantly enhance the overall flavor and experience. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each element is crucial:
- Tomatoes: The foundation of this salad. Opt for a variety to maximize flavor and visual appeal.
- Large Heirloom Tomatoes: Choose different colors (red, yellow, orange, green striped) for their unique, complex flavors and meaty texture. Slice them thinly for a beautiful presentation.
- Mixed Cherry Tomatoes: These small, sweet bursts of flavor add a different texture and bright pop of color. Halve them to ensure they meld well with the other ingredients.
- Tip: Select firm, ripe tomatoes that yield slightly to gentle pressure and have a fragrant aroma.
- Corn: Adds a delightful sweetness and crunchy texture.
- You can use fresh boiled or grilled corn kernels for the best flavor. If fresh isn’t available, quality canned or frozen corn (thawed) works well in a pinch.
- Burrata Cheese: The undisputed star.
- Fresh burrata is essential. Look for plump, round balls with a smooth, shiny exterior. Its creamy interior is what makes this salad so special.
- Arugula Salad: Provides a peppery, slightly bitter counterpoint.
- Baby arugula is preferred for its tender leaves and milder flavor. Wash and thoroughly dry it before use to prevent a watery dressing.
- Salt and Freshly Cracked Black Pepper: Non-negotiable seasoning.
- These humble ingredients are critical for enhancing the natural flavors of the tomatoes and burrata. Don’t underestimate their power!
- For the Homemade Dressing: A simple yet impactful vinaigrette.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Use a high-quality, fruity extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Brightens the entire salad. Always use freshly squeezed for superior taste.
- Balsamic Vinaigrette: A good quality balsamic adds a touch of acidity and sweetness. A slightly thicker balsamic glaze (a reduction) can also be used for beautiful streaks.
Crafting Your Delicious Burrata Salad: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this stunning Tomato and Burrata Salad is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps to bring this refreshing dish to life:
- Step 1: Prepare the Arugula Base. Begin by thoroughly washing and drying your baby arugula. In a spacious mixing bowl, place the clean arugula. Drizzle a tablespoon of good quality olive oil over the greens, add a pinch of salt, and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Gently toss the arugula until each leaf is lightly coated. This pre-dressing step ensures the arugula is flavorful on its own and provides a moist bed for the other ingredients. Set this aside.
- Step 2: Prepare the Tomatoes and Corn. Carefully wash all your tomatoes. For the large heirloom tomatoes, thinly slice them horizontally or into attractive wedges, as desired. Cut the cherry tomatoes into equal halves. If using fresh corn, boil or grill it, then carefully remove the kernels. If using canned corn, drain it well. Have all these vibrant ingredients ready for assembly.
- Step 3: Artful Assembly. On your serving platter or individual plates, create a generous bed with the pre-dressed arugula. Artfully arrange the slices of heirloom tomatoes over the arugula, leaving some space between them to allow other ingredients to peek through. Next, gently tear or place the fresh burrata cheese in chunks or whole balls around the tomatoes. Don’t be afraid to tear some open to reveal their creamy, dreamy interior – this adds visual interest and allows the cream to mingle with the other flavors.
- Step 4: Add Finishing Touches. Fill any small gaps on the platter with the halved cherry tomatoes and corn kernels, scattering them evenly for a balanced look. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, a pinch of salt, lemon juice, and balsamic vinaigrette. Drizzle this exquisite dressing generously over the entire salad. For an extra touch of richness, a final drizzle of olive oil can be added. Finish with a generous crack of fresh black pepper. For a beautiful garnish and an aromatic touch, scatter fresh basil leaves over the salad just before serving.
Expert Tips for the Best Tomato and Burrata Salad
Achieving a truly outstanding Tomato and Burrata Salad goes beyond just following the steps. These expert tips will help you elevate your salad to culinary perfection:
- Choose Quality Balsamic: A thicker, high-quality balsamic vinegar or even a balsamic glaze will adhere better to the ingredients and create those appealing dark stripes across the creamy burrata and bright tomatoes, enhancing both flavor and presentation.
- Dress Just Before Serving: To prevent the greens from wilting and ensure optimal freshness, always drizzle the dressing onto the salad right before it’s served. This keeps the textures crisp and vibrant.
- Serve at Room Temperature: Burrata cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature. Take it out of the refrigerator approximately 30 minutes before assembling the salad. This allows its rich, creamy interior to become perfectly soft and melty, enhancing its luxurious texture.
- Don’t Skimp on Seasoning: A dash of good quality salt and freshly cracked black pepper is paramount. These seasonings don’t just add saltiness or spice; they bring out the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and the delicate flavor of the burrata, making every bite sing.
- Accompany with Crusty Bread: Serve this salad with some warm, crusty bread. It’s perfect for mopping up any leftover dressing and for savoring alongside the creamy burrata, offering a delightful textural contrast.
- Customize with Your Favorite Veggies: This recipe is incredibly adaptable. Feel free to add other complementary vegetables like thinly sliced red onion, cucumber, bell peppers, or even grilled zucchini. Just ensure they don’t overpower the delicate flavors of the tomatoes and burrata.
- Fresh Herbs are Key: Fresh basil leaves are a classic pairing for tomatoes and burrata. Lay them gently on top of the salad as a beautiful garnish and for their aromatic contribution. You could also experiment with fresh mint or oregano for a different flavor profile.
- Consider a Light Protein: For a more substantial meal, consider adding grilled chicken, pan-seared shrimp, or thinly sliced prosciutto to the salad. These additions complement the existing flavors beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burrata Salad
Here are some common questions about burrata and this delicious salad, providing you with more insights and tips:
What’s the difference between mozzarella and burrata cheese?
Both fresh mozzarella and burrata are semi-soft Italian cheeses, typically made from cow’s or water buffalo’s milk, and both are wonderfully creamy. However, burrata is often considered the more luxurious cousin. Essentially, burrata is a pouch of mozzarella, but its distinguishing feature is its decadent filling: a rich mixture of stracciatella (shredded mozzarella curds) and fresh cream. When you cut into a ball of burrata, this luscious, soft, and extra-creamy interior spills out, offering an unparalleled velvety texture and a richer flavor profile than traditional fresh mozzarella. This makes burrata exceptionally perfect for salads, where its creaminess can truly shine.
What are the best tomatoes for a Burrata Salad?
For a visually appealing and flavorful burrata salad, variety is key. I highly recommend using different colors of heirloom tomatoes. They are celebrated for their meaty texture, vibrant hues, and complex, often subtly sweet flavors that beautifully complement the peppery kick of arugula. In addition to heirlooms, multi-colored cherry tomatoes are fantastic for adding small bursts of intense sweetness and another layer of visual interest. Their firm skin provides a pleasant pop. Another excellent ingredient is fresh corn; you can use fresh boiled or grilled kernels, or if unavailable, quality canned corn works perfectly well, adding sweetness and crunch to the salad.
Should burrata be served warm?
For the optimal experience, burrata is best served at room temperature. The chill from the refrigerator can firm up its delicate, creamy interior, dulling its luxurious texture. To ensure that delightful oozy consistency, remove the burrata from the fridge about 30 minutes before you plan to serve it, allowing it to gently come up to ambient temperature. When adding it to the salad, you can strategically tear open some of the burrata balls to expose their creamy core, creating an inviting visual and encouraging the cream to blend with the other ingredients, while leaving others whole for contrast and discovery.
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
While this salad is best enjoyed freshly assembled for peak flavor and texture, you can do some prep work in advance. You can wash and slice the tomatoes, prepare the corn, and whisk together the dressing ingredients. Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. However, for the crispest arugula and the creamiest burrata, it’s best to combine all the ingredients and dress the salad no more than 15-30 minutes before serving.
How do I choose good quality burrata?
Look for burrata that is stored in water or brine, which helps maintain its freshness and moisture. The outer layer should be smooth, shiny, and relatively firm, without any cracks or discoloration. The best indicator of quality is often the taste and texture once opened – it should be incredibly soft, milky, and creamy with a distinct fresh dairy flavor. Check the expiry date to ensure it’s as fresh as possible.
Other Delicious Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re a fan of fresh, vibrant flavors and easy-to-make dishes, you’ll surely enjoy these other delightful recipes:
- Autumn Pear Salad: A beautiful blend of sweet pears, crunchy nuts, and savory cheese, perfect for fall.
- Pesto Burrata Veggie Pizza: A gourmet pizza experience featuring creamy burrata and vibrant vegetables.
- Burrata Caprese Toast: A quick and elegant appetizer that combines the best of Caprese with the richness of burrata on crispy toast.
- Balsamic Tomato Mozzarella Salad: A classic and beloved combination of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a tangy balsamic dressing.
I genuinely hope you relish every recipe I share with you, especially this exquisitely simple yet profoundly delicious Tomato and Burrata Salad. It’s a testament to the fact that extraordinary flavors often come from the freshest ingredients and straightforward preparation. I wholeheartedly encourage you to try it, savor every bite, and share your experience. Your feedback, ratings, and shares with friends and family mean the world!
If this recipe graces your table and brings joy to your palate, please don’t hesitate to share your culinary creations with me on INSTAGRAM using my hashtag. You might even find your post featured in my stories! For a continuous stream of my latest social posts, kitchen adventures, and delectable recipes, make sure to follow Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST. Happy cooking!
Tomato and Burrata Salad
Ingredients
- 3 large heirloom Tomatoes, mixed colors
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, mixed colors
- 1 cup corn
- 1 tbsp. olive oil, to drizzle in the end
- fresh cracked black pepper
DRESSING
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/8 tsp salt, just a pinch
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsp balsamic vinaigrette
ARUGULA SALAD
- 4 cups arugula salad
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- pinch salt
Instructions
- To prepare for the salad, wash and dry the tomatoes. Also wash and drain the arugula salad.
- In a bowl, place the arugula salad, drizzle some olive oil, dash of salt, a squeeze of lemon on top of them and then toss to coat well. Set that aside.
- For the tomatoes, thinly slice the heirloom tomatoes as show in the photos (horizontally), cut the cherry tomatoes into equal halves and have them ready.
- Place the bed of arugula salad that you mixed first thing on the plate. Place the slices of heirloom tomatoes apart from each other, leaving space for other things to go in between. Then place the burrata cheeses around. You can tear open some and leave a couple closed.
- Fill in little gaps with the cherry tomatoes and corn. Drizzle the dressing around, drizzle a little bit more olive oil on top and crack some fresh black pepper over the salad. Place the basil leaves on top of the salad for garnishing.
Notes
- Thicker balsamic vinegar means the dressing will stay in place better, and those dark stripes look so appetizing across the salad!
- Drizzle the dressing just before serving.
- Serve with some crusty bread to mop up the dressing and to eat with the creamy burrata.
- Don’t skip on the salt and pepper! Even a dash of seasoning brings out the best in the tomatoes and the burrata.
- Customize with your favorite veggies if you prefer.
- Place basil leaves on top of the salad for garnish.