This Burrata Salad Recipe is packed with fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, and creamy burrata cheese. It's topped with a delightful pesto vinaigrette dressing! This is a super simple salad, so make a large bowl for a light meal, snack, or perfect dinner side.
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Burrata cheese has really been having a moment lately, and we couldn't be happier!
We have a few burrata recipes on our site because we love it so much! Try this Baked Nectarine and Cherry Burrata, this Burrata Caprese Salad, or this Burrata and Prosciutto Arugula Salad!
This big salad is made with simple ingredients but packs a ton of flavor. It comes together so quick, we just know you'll love it!
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❤️Why you'll love this
- An ode to summer. There's nothing like the combo of leafy greens, ripe tomatoes, and creamy cheese! Top it all off with a few extra textures and pesto vinaigrette. It's next level, and the perfect summer salad.
- Made with kitchen staples. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients. Anything you don't have on hand can be found in most grocery stores!
- Easy recipe. No need to fret, this tasty side dish can be on the table in 20 minutes or less.
- Naturally gluten free & low carb. Made with high quality, fresh ingredients. It suits a variety of diets.
🍅Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need. The full recipe, quantities, and nutritional information can be found in the recipe card.
- Spring mix. Or any leafy green of choice.
- Pine nuts. Optional, but they add such a nice crunch and nutty flavor. We toast them up, but you can enjoy them raw as well.
- Fresh basil leaves. Optional, but we like to chiffonade some basil to garnish the salad at the end.
- Kosher salt & black pepper. We always season our leafy greens a little for the best flavor. You can also top with a little flaky sea salt as well!
- Bell pepper. Optional, but adds a little color and sweetness.
- Fresh tomatoes. We opted for cherry tomatoes, but any ripe tomatoes work! Heirloom tomatoes are delicious when they are in season.
- Homemade pesto vinaigrette. To dress the salad! Add to taste.
- Fresh burrata cheese. Makes for the most perfect centerpiece with a gooey center!
✨Substitutions & Variations
- No spring mix? No problem! Use bibb lettuce, spinach, or a little bit of peppery arugula for a really great flavor.
- Swap the pesto vinaigrette. You can dress the greens quickly with a little bit of good quality extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, a few seasonings, and a little regular or white balsamic vinegar. We also have recipes for a honey lemon vinaigrette and a creamy balsamic dressing that would taste delicious with this!
- Use your favorite nuts. You can substitute pine nuts for almonds, pistachios, or walnuts!
- Add a protein to make it a full meal. Add some cooked chicken breast, like this lemon herb chicken, shrimp, some crispy prosciutto, or your favorite protein to make this a complete meal.
- Add parmesan cheese. Can't get enough Italian cheese? We understand! Try grating on some freshly shaved or grated parmesan. Delicious!
- Add a sweet and spicy flavor. Try adding a drizzle of some homemade hot honey sauce over top of the salad for some really intense and delicious flavor.
- Serve with cherry tomato confit. Looking for extra luscious flavor? Try adding some cherry tomato confit to the salad, and use the infused oil to dress the salad!
🔪Prep work
- Make the vinaigrette (optional). The pesto vinaigrette can be made up to 5 - 7 days in advance, but if you haven't made it already, it comes together really quickly. Do this first and let it chill in the fridge while you prep the other ingredients.
- Prepare burrata. Very gently drain the brine from inside the burrata container. Place the burrata cheese in a large bowl and cover it with hot water. Do this while you prep the other ingredients, so the creamy center can loosen up a bit more. When you go to cut it open, the center will spill out with creamy goodness.
- Chop the veggies. Depending on your preferences, cut bell peppers into bite-sized pieces. You can halve, quarter, or chop tomatoes even further to suit your preference.
- Preheat a skillet over medium-low heat. This is if you plan to toast pine nuts for the salad, so an optional step.
📖Instructions
Toast pine nuts
In a skillet over medium-low heat, toast the pine nuts by adding them to the hot skillet and moving around frequently, until they are golden brown and release a nutty aroma. This will take 2-5 minutes. Set aside to cool. (Image 1)
Season the greens
Season the greens with a little salt and pepper, plus a small amount of pesto vinaigrette. Toss to combine and place on a large serving platter. (Image 2)
Layer on veggies
Layer on bell peppers, tomatoes, and pine nuts. (Image 3)
Add the burrata cheese
Using a slotted spoon, very gently remove the burrata cheese from the warm water, and place the burrata on top of the salad. Cut into it to let out the creamy filling in the center. (Image 4)
Garnish and enjoy!
Dress with pesto vinaigrette, then top it all off with a little bit of salt, pepper, and basil chiffonade (ribbons). Enjoy! (Image 5)
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✨Tips and Tricks
- Use fresh Ingredients. Use the freshest ingredients possible, especially for the greens, cherry tomatoes, and basil. Fresh ingredients will make all the difference for the salad.
- Toast the pine nuts carefully. Be careful not to burn the pine nuts when toasting them! Toasting them for a few minutes enhances their flavor. Just make sure to keep an eye on them and stir frequently to make sure they toasted evenly, and don't burn.
- Season everything in stages. Be sure to add salt and pepper while putting the salad together to ensure that everything tastes great. This will make a load of difference in the final result!
- Layer the ingredients. Another component of a great salad is having a little bit of everything in each bite. To ensure each bite is delicious, add the different ingredients in stages.
- Don't add the dressing until just before serving. Adding the dressing can make the salad wilted. Add dressing right before you plan to serve it!
💭Frequently Asked Questions
This salad is best enjoyed fresh but can be saved for 1-2 days in the refrigerator if covered.
The bell peppers, pesto vinaigrette, and toasted pine nuts can be stored in airtight containers. The vinaigrette and bell peppers must be stored in the fridge, while pine nuts can be stored at room temperature.
We don't recommend dressing the greens, cutting up tomatoes or the burrata until it's time to serve.
Burrata is fresh, soft cheese. It's an Italian cow’s milk cheese, made from fresh, soft curds, and fresh cream stuffed into mozzarella cheese scraps.
This cheese was made to reduce leftover mozzarella food waste. It's similar to fresh mozzarella cheese balls but with a much more creamy filling. It's totally luscious!
Is burrata cheese the same as mozzarella?
Not quite. While the outside is made from mozzarella scraps, the inside of the burrata ball is filled with luscious, creamy cheese curds - also known as stracciatella.
🍴What to Serve this Salad with
This salad is hearty and full of flavor. It can easily be lunch! If you're looking to add more protein or turn this into an entire meal, here are a few suggestions.
- Chicken. This lemon herb chicken, this pepperoni pizza chicken, or this chicken pomodoro would pair perfectly with this salad!
- Steak. Serve alongside this cast iron ribeye, this bavette steak recipe, or any steak of your choosing.
- Fish and seafood. Shrimp, salmon, and more definitely would complement this salad!
- Sandwiches. Everyone loves a salad and a sandwich for lunch! Serve this salad with this delicious grinder sandwich recipe.
- Other pesto dishes. Try it with this creamy pesto pasta, this pesto butter salmon, or this chicken pesto pasta salad. The flavors go together perfectly! Try serving it with these portobello burgers for a vegetarian option.
- Pasta. Everything from this baked rigatoni with Italian sausage to this lemon and garlic pasta are an excellent match for this salad!
- More ideas. These Italian sausage stuffed peppers would make an excellent main course alongside this salad!
More Salads To Consider
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📖 Recipe
Burrata Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted, about 60 grams (optional)
- 5 ounces spring mix
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes quartered
- 1 large yellow bell pepper diced. (Can sub for any color bell pepper)
- 8 ounces burrata cheese
- handful of basil leaves cut into ribbons (chiffonade), optional
- pesto vinaigrette to serve (optional, can be served with whatever dressing you like)
Instructions
- Optional step. Skip if not using pine nuts. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts to skillet and move them around frequently to prevent burning. After 3-5 minutes, the pine nuts should smell nutty and be golden brown in color. Once toasted, remove from the skillet and set aside.¼ cup pine nuts
- Toss greens together with a small amount of dressing, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add to a large serving platter.5 ounces spring mix, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, pesto vinaigrette
- Top with toasted pine nuts, tomatoes, and bell pepper. Add the burrata to the center and split it open.10 ounces cherry tomatoes, 1 large yellow bell pepper, 8 ounces burrata cheese
- Dress with more pesto vinaigrette. Garnish with basil chiffonade, black pepper, and kosher salt. Enjoy!handful of basil leaves
- Leftovers can be stored for about 1 day in the fridge in an airtight container, but this salad is best enjoyed fresh.
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Notes
- Pesto vinaigrette dressing is not included in the nutrition facts, add to taste. It can be made 5-7 days in advance.
- Toasting the pine nuts is optional.
- Spring mix can be replaced with any other leafy green of choice.
- Use your favorite veggies. Bell peppers and tomatoes are optional.
- Use fresh Ingredients. Use the freshest ingredients possible, especially for the greens, cherry tomatoes, and basil. Fresh ingredients will make all the difference for the salad.
-
- Season everything in stages. Be sure to add salt and pepper while putting the salad together to ensure that everything tastes great. This will make a load of difference in the final result!
- Layer the ingredients. Another component of a great salad is having a little bit of everything in each bite. To ensure each bite is delicious, add the different ingredients in stages.
- Don't add the dressing until just before serving. Adding the dressing can make the salad wilted. Add dressing right before you plan to serve it!
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