There’s really nothing quite like beginning a meal with a Caprese salad, whether you’re home on a hot summer evening or at an Italian restaurant. Caprese salad is fresh, simple and beautiful; what more could we ask of a salad? Well, we’re here to do you one better with the burrata Caprese salad.
Burrata cheese is a creamy, tantalizingly version of mozzarella. It’s made from fresh mozzarella and cream, and it’s incredibly soft and buttery. You can add it to pizzas, as seen in the viral burrata pizza recipes, or slather it on crisp sourdough toast and garnish it with hot honey and lemon or strawberries and balsamic glaze.
When you want something quick and flavorful, though, this uncomplicated salad is the way to go.
Burrata Caprese Ingredients
- Burrata cheese
- Tomatoes
- Fresh basil leaves
- Olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Salt
- Coarsely ground pepper
Directions
Step 1: Arrange the plate
Place the ball of burrata in the center of the serving plate. Leave the ball in full form (no slicing) to keep the creamy center intact until the first person digs in.
Arrange the tomato slices around the cheese and sprinkle with basil leaves. You can also place a basil leaf between each tomato slice if the leaves are too big for sprinkling.
Step 2: Drizzle with oil and vinegar
Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the whole plate and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let the salad rest for a few minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
Burrata Caprese Salad Variations
- Add infused oil: If you have a local shop that sells infused olive oils, it can be fun to use these in salads. Think rosemary-infused olive oil or garlic olive oil—this small change can make a huge difference in the flavor of your salad.
- Grab heirloom tomatoes: For a brighter pop of color on your dinner table, serve this salad with green or yellow tomatoes.
- Use vinaigrette: Drizzle with a rich balsamic vinaigrette rather than plain balsamic vinegar.
- Change up the salt: Swap regular salt for sea salt or smoked salt, and you might just have a totally different salad!
- Make it sweet: Add peaches or learn how to make a grilled peach burrata salad.
Burrata Caprese Salad Tips
Can you make burrata Caprese salad in advance?
This salad is best made fresh, and you wouldn’t want to serve soggy basil or less-than-fresh burrata, so we recommend making this just before serving. Thankfully this salad doesn’t take long to prep.
Now if you are really wanting to make burrata Caprese from scratch and have planned to make your own burrata cheese, you can definitely make the cheese in advance—about a day early—and slice your tomatoes meal-prep style. This way, all you have to do is arrange everything on the plate before serving.
What do you serve with burrata Caprese salad?
Serve this salad with crostini for some extra crunch or with a charcuterie board of your favorite Italian meats. If this is the only appetizer you have planned for your meal, this salad pairs really well with Italian chicken dishes, pasta, fish or even as a light side to a hearty Italian soup.
