Easy Tomato Burrata Salad

It might be super quick to prepare but this is no ordinary Tomato Burrata Salad recipe. Celebrating sweet juicy tomatoes layered with creamy burrata cheese, fragrant basil and tangy-sweet balsamic glaze, this is our version of the Burrata Caprese. Perfect for easy entertaining all summer long.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love Our Quick Tomato Burrata Salad
• What Is Burrata?
• What Is The Difference Between Mozzarella And Burrata?
• How To Eat Burrata?
• What Kind Of Tomatoes To Use?
• Recipe Overview
• Ingredients
• Variations and Substitutions
• Instructions
• How to Make This Salad Perfectly (Expert Tips)
• Great Mains for This Salad
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Recipe

Why You’ll Love Our Quick Tomato Burrata Salad

This is one of those easy summer salad recipes where you barely have to do anything to prepare something utterly delicious. My tomato burrata salad recipe is all about the fresh produce.

When tomatoes are in full swing and basil dominates the herb garden during the summer months, they come together and produce the most delicious recipes. A recipe with the classic pairing of tomato and basil never goes wrong.  

Essentially this is my twist on the classic Caprese salad recipe. Instead of using fresh mozzarella as the main star, I am using burrata cheese. 

The delicate milky flavour of burrata adds creaminess to the sweet tomato and basil combination. Plus, I dial it up a little more with peppery radishes and salty capers. 

To finish, I use good quality sharp extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze to tie everything in. No dressing is needed for this burrata salad. 

Everything on the plate amplifies the sweetness of the tomatoes.

And the best part, little effort is required to prepare a stunning tomato burrata salad! One of my favourite tomato recipes to serve as a side salad for long lunches or as an appetiser before a dinner party. 

What Is Burrata?

Burrata is made using fresh cow’s milk with a delicate and soft texture that oozes a buttery consistency, unlike any other soft cow’s cheese. 

Shaped like a money bag, the outer shell of the burrata is made from solid mozzarella skin, while the inside contains stracciatella (shredded mozzarella cheese) mixed with cream. 

This combination creates a mild, delicate, yet deliciously creamy flavour. I only discovered burrata a few years ago when dining out with friends and it quickly became a firm favourite in the house. 

What Is The Difference Between Mozzarella And Burrata?

Burrata and fresh mozzarella are similar – both semi-soft cheese, not aged and eaten soon after being made. 

The main difference between the two is the creamy stracciatella inside the burrata. Mozzarella does not have a soft middle, and you can slice it. Once you cut burrata, the soft creamy shredded mozzarella cheese in the middle will ooze out. 

Burrata takes fresh mozzarella a little further and creates a different texture and experience. 

How To Eat Burrata?

Keeping it simple is the best way to eat burrata. Just drizzle with good olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with sea salt, easy. 

Served fresh and at room temperature, I love scooping up the soft cheese with my favourite sourdough bread. Just heavenly. I feel I need some now as I’m writing this recipe!

What Kind Of Tomatoes To Use?

There are more than 3000 tomato varieties cultivated across the globe. Other than the traditional red ones, there are many shades of yellow, orange, green, purple, pink – even striped and nearly all-black ones too! 

Typically for a classic Caprese salad, you would use one variety such as heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes.

However, for my version of burrata Caprese salad, I loved selecting a medley of tomatoes to showcase a blend of sweetness, colour and shapes. Plus they were all in season at the time. So I went with a mix of heirloom, roma, cherry and grape tomatoes. 

Larger varieties like heirloom or beefsteak can be less sweet compared to smaller varieties. Small, compact, and juicy with higher sugar levels, cherry and grape tomatoes adds a pop of sweetness. Together they make a delicious combination of tangy sweetness.

Recipe Overview

Flavour/Texture: I love the sweet juicy flavours of tomato with aromatic basil. The lush, soft burrata cheese adds creaminess, balsamic vinegar dials up the natural acidity, peppery radishes give extra texture, and the salty capers enhance the natural flavours.

No crisp leafy greens in this recipe, so the texture is more soft and mellow with slices of juicy tomato and creamy burrata. 

Ease: For those who can’t really cook, then this tomato salad recipe is definitely one they can make! Or at least try.  No real cooking involved, just slicing a few ingredients and assembling. Super easy and quick.

Time: This tomato burrata salad will take as long as you chop! Maximum, I would say 15 minutes from slicing to serving.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need for Tomato Burrata Salad: 

Tomatoes: This recipe calls for a variety of tomatoes but don’t feel constrained by the ones I have selected. Buy whichever ones that are most ripe and plump looking at the time. Just make sure you select a variety of colours and shapes as this will definitely help the overall appearance of the salad.

Basil: Fresh basil leaves smell amazing. Plus it is a delicious punchy herb to add to salads. We also love it in our basil and mint dressing. Look for deep, green leaves with as little blemishes as you can. 

Radish: I find radishes very understated. Rather than the usual carrot and cucumber sticks, I often have radishes for dips. Small peppery morsel that adds crunch and bite. For this recipe, it adds a little extra crunch and spicy flavours.

Capers: You can find them in your pickled vegetable aisle at the supermarket. Next to the olives and cornichons. For salads, I normally buy baby capers. 

Burrata: Most larger supermarkets, speciality food stores and delis will stock burrata cheese. You buy burrata in a small container filled with whey. You keep the burrata cheese in whey to keep it fresh. 

Balsamic glaze: In my classic Caprese salad, I don’t use balsamic vinegar or glaze but for this burrata Caprese, I like to add balsamic glaze. The thick sweet, tangy concoction of balsamic glaze really helps cut through the rich creaminess of the stracciatella centre of the burrata cheese.  

Extra virgin olive oil: Important to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the final drizzle. There is no official dressing for this salad so the extra virgin olive oil will shine through. 

Variations and Substitutions

Can I use a different cheese? This version of the Caprese salad is very much about the burrata cheese. If you can’t find burrata, you can substitute with fresh mozzarella or bocconcini, but they both will not have the creamy centre. 

Balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze? I prefer to use balsamic glaze for this recipe as it has a thicker consistency and works better with the burrata. However, if you don’t have it available, you can try a good quality aged balsamic vinegar or even omit it completely. 

Instructions

Step by step instructions for how to make Tomato Burrata Salad:

How to Prepare the Salad

Always start with a sharp knife. Without a sharp knife when slicing tomatoes, I find I end up squishing them down.

For the larger heirloom and roma tomatoes, we want to cut them crossways. Place the tomato sideways and slice the tomato into ½ cm thick slices. 

Slice the cherry and grape tomatoes in half. If you have very small cherry tomatoes, you can leave some of them whole.

Wash and rinse radishes well. Trim the stalks and then thinly slice.

Wash and remove basil leaves from stalk.

How to Assemble the Salad

On a large serving plate, place larger tomato slices first around the plate. Then layer the smaller tomatoes around the slices. Mix them around so you can have a variety of colours and shapes.

Scatter radish slices, basil leaves and baby capers evenly across the plate.

Place burrata in the middle of salad, drizzle with balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil. 

To serve, season with sea salt and ground black pepper.

How to Make This Salad Perfectly (Expert Tips)

Buy as fresh as possible: This tomato burrata salad recipe is all about the fresh produce. There is no hiding between salad leaves or crunchy elements. Therefore it is important to use fresh, ripe tomatoes and leafy basil leaves that are in season. 

Gentle handling of burrata: I have accidentally split the burrata cheese before plating several times. All the creamy cheese was floating in a container of whey. It is heartbreaking.

You can scoop out the cheese, but it is not the same without the white, lush burrata cheese money bag shape sitting in the middle of the plate. So please do be careful when handling the burrata. 

Good seasoning of salt: Never underestimate the power of salt on tomatoes. It really helps lift the sweetness of the fruit. Just like our Watermelon Apple Salad, where we add savoury tamari lime dressing for flavour. 

Great Mains for This Salad

What to serve with Tomato Burrata Salad? Try these delicious main dish recipes:

We love a simple, refreshing salad when we’re having heavy mains. Helps to cleanse the palate and balance out the flavours. Our watermelon apple salad is perfect for a traditional ossobuco alla Milanese (veal shank) or a good old fashioned shepherd’s pie.

Feeling like some fish for dinner? You have to try this maple mustard glazed salmon. Fantastic recipe!

Frequently Asked Questions

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Once you have made this tomato burrata Caprese salad, you will be craving it all summer long.

I love how a few simple ingredients can create an amazing dish that is not only stunning to serve but absolutely delicious to eat. Now you have an easy tomato salad recipe for all your entertaining days. 

That’s all!

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