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This easy burrata salad is a delicious blend of summery and juicy flavors! Tomato Burrata Salad is made with fresh garden tomatoes, creamy burrata cheese, and a crispy, garlicky breadcrumb topping that’ll have everyone reaching for seconds.
When summer hits, fresh produce is everywhere, and I just can’t resist those ripe, juicy tomatoes that are in abundance this time of year. My farmer’s market basket always ends up loaded with heirloom tomatoes at their peak flavor. They’re amazing, sliced and sprinkled with salt and pepper, piled onto sandwiches, and added to all kinds of recipes, like my berry caprese salad, caprese stuffed mushrooms, and this simple caprese pasta dinner.
But this burrata salad, my friends, is a game-changer. If you’re looking for a fantastic summer salad, this tomato burrata salad recipe is it! Similar to a burrata caprese salad, it features fresh tomatoes, basil, and that luxurious fresh burrata cheese.
What Is Burrata?
Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella cheese and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella, while the inside contains stracciatella and cream, giving it a soft, creamy texture. When you cut into burrata, the creamy interior oozes out, making it incredibly luxurious and rich. It’s often used in summer salads, like this burrata salad, or served with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Recipe Ingredients
This tomato burrata salad recipe requires only a few simple ingredients and is incredibly easy to prepare! Everything can be found at your local grocery store, and there’s hardly any prep involved. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need, but please scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.
- Tomatoes: Any kind will do as long as they’re ripe. I love using heirloom tomatoes for this recipe. Slice them thin or cut them into 1-inch pieces. For grape tomatoes, cut them in half, but for cherry tomatoes, cut them in quarters.
- Breadcrumbs: These are optional, but I love the crispy topping they add to the salad. You can use Italian bread crumbs or pork rind crumbs. Homemade breadcrumbs are good, too!
- Olive Oil: I recommend a good olive oil for this recipe. Extra virgin olive oil is also great.
- Garlic: If you can, mince fresh garlic because it has the brightest flavor. Otherwise, pre-minced garlic in a jar or garlic powder will work.
- White Balsamic Vinegar: This delicious vinegar is a bit more delicate than regular balsamic vinegar, but you can use regular if that’s what you have. Both are great!
- Fresh Basil: Chopped fresh basil leaves provide a fresh herb flavor and aroma.
- Salt and Black Pepper: To enhance all the flavors.
- Burrata Cheese: Tear or cut into 1-inch pieces.
Variation Ideas
Burrata tomato salad is not only simple, but it’s also a really flexible recipe. Here are some of my favorite ways to tweak it and make adjustments to fit your pantry and dietary needs:
- Add Protein: If you want to take this from a side dish to a main course, you can easily add some protein. Think prosciutto, shredded spatchcock grilled chicken, leftover strips of oven grilled steak, or even a perfectly fried egg.
- Add Veggies: Torn romaine lettuce, spring mix, slivers of fennel, peppery arugula, and crisp slices of raw red onion would all be perfectly at home in this dish. Sauteed summer squash or roasted mushrooms are also great additions.
- Cheese Substitutes: If you can’t find burrata cheese, fresh mozzarella balls or slices work beautifully. This will take the dish back to its Caprese salad roots, which are always delicious!
- Add Pine Nuts: Toasted pine nuts add a wonderful crunch and nutty flavor to the salad, enhancing its overall deliciousness.
Serving Suggestions
This grilled blackened chicken pairs wonderfully with a fresh summer salad of burrata and tomatoes. For a hearty main course, try Macedonian fried pork pizza, made with tender chunks of seasoned pork and fried eggs. Keep things vegetarian with crispy baked falafel plus a slice of crusty bread for a complete meal.
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Tomato Burrata Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes, sliced, or cut into 1-inch pieces (I used heirloom tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs, or pork rind crumbs
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 to 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup chopped fresh basil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces burrata cheese, torn or cut into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- Drain the tomatoes. Place the cut tomatoes in a colander and toss with ¼ teaspoon salt; let them drain for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Make the breadcrumb topping. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a 10-inch skillet set over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs to the heated oil; season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until the breadcrumbs are crispy and golden. Stir in the garlic and cook for 15 seconds, or until fragrant. Remove from the heat and transfer the crumbs to a plate to cool.
- Make the dressing. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together ¼ cup olive oil with 1 to 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar. Whisk in the salt and pepper.
- Combine. Add the tomatoes and basil to the vinegar mixture in the bowl; gently toss to combine. Taste for salt and pepper, and adjust accordingly.
- Finish and serve. Arrange the tomato salad on a serving platter. Top with the bread crumbs and the torn burrata cheese, and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make This Tomato Burrata Salad
Nothing is more pleasant on a busy night than having dinner ready with minimal prep and maximum flavor. This easy salad is perfect as a light meal with delicious flavor, making it ideal for a dinner party in warmer weather.
- Drain the Tomatoes. This is the secret step that makes this salad so good! If you don’t have time, you can skip it, but it really makes almost any tomato salad better. Just cut the tomatoes into pieces or slices, place the pieces in a colander, and give them a little sprinkle of salt. Let them sit and drain for about 30 minutes (even 15 minutes will work).
- Make the Crispy Breadcrumbs. While the tomatoes are draining, heat up a couple of spoonfuls of olive oil in a skillet. Once it’s hot, add the breadcrumbs with a little salt and pepper, and toast them for a minute, or until they’re golden and crisp. You’ll want to stir them often so they don’t burn. Add the garlic, and cook for another 20 seconds or so, and then take the breadcrumb mixture off the heat. Let it cool on a clean plate.
- Mix the Dressing Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, the white balsamic vinegar, and a bit more salt and pepper to make the most delicious herb vinaigrette.
- Finish the Dish. Add the tomatoes and basil to the vinegar mixture and gently toss to combine. Taste the dish and see if it needs any additional seasonings—if so, add some to your taste. Serve the salad topped with the breadcrumb topping and the torn burrata cheese.
How to Store the Leftovers
Considering the delicate texture of the tomatoes and the cheese, this salad doesn’t store very well for long. Pop any leftovers into an airtight container and refrigerate for a day or two.
Such an amazing salad! Taste SO good!
Thank YOU! Please enjoy! 🙂
Sounds really good! I would love to make this!
I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I love this salad! So flavorful and very refreshing!
Please enjoy! Thank YOU! 🙂
OMG, this looks so good! I LOVE burrata, and this recipe makes the best use of it. It’s like the ultimate Caprese!
Thank you so much, Beth! I hope you’ll love it! 🙂
I love tomatoes in every way! I cannot wait to try this recipe out!
I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This was delicious! It’s one of those recipes that looks super impressive, but is actually so simple to put together, but the flavors are out of this world.
Thank you so much! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
My go-to recipe when it’s tomato season! The burrata cheese is soooo good!
I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I love tomatoes, so when I came across this recipe it caught my eye! So easy and quick to make. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂