Burrata Salad: a make-tonight method

A serving plate of burrata salad with heirloom tomatoes, basil and lemon dressing.

This burrata salad is a blend of fresh tomatoes, silky cheese and basil leaves, all drizzled with a unfussy lemon dressing. An straightforward and elegant side dish that is reliable for summer entertaining!

When the warmer weather months roll around, I celebrate the seasonal produce by making salad recipes such as colorful corn salad, zesty cucumber tomato salad, avocado egg salad, and this impressive looking burrata salad.

Burrata is one of my all time go-to cheeses. It’s irresistibly silky, and has a neutral flavor which makes it reliable for pairing with a variety of other ingredients. This burrata salad is a classic combination of juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and of course, this fabulous cheese. Pair your salad with other Italian dishes such as pasta e fagioli soup, cheese tortellini, lasagna roll ups or baked spaghetti for a memorable meal.

Burrata Salad Ingredients

Bowls of ingredients including tomatoes, olive oil, burrata cheese and seasonings.

To make this recipe, you will need tomatoes, burrata cheese, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, basil, kosher salt, black pepper and coarse salt.

How Do You Make Burrata Salad?

Start by whisking together a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange the tomatoes, burrata balls and basil leaves on a platter or in a bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Garnish with flaky sea salt, then serve and enjoy.

Step by step process shots showing how to make burrata salad.

Tips For The Reliable Dish

You may be wondering why this recipe calls for two types of salt. It’s better to use a standard kosher salt in the dressing so it will dissolve, then add the sprinkle of coarse salt over the end as a finishing touch.
You can use any ripe tomatoes for the salad, but I prefer to use a variety of heirloomtomatoes for the different colors and textures.
Serve your salad with a side of bread for optimal enjoyment. I like to grill or toast the bread for even more flavor.
This salad is finest when eaten immediately, so plan accordingly with your timing.
You can serve the salad with whole balls of burrata, or cut the burrata into pieces and scatter it around the salad. It tastes great either way so it’s really up to your preference!

Quick Tip

I like to finish the salt with a little flaky sea salt as it adds more texture and really enhances the flavor of the tomatoes and cheese. I typically use Maldon brand, but any nice quality salt will work just fine.

Dressing being poured over tomato and cheese salad.

Recipe FAQs

What is burrata made of?

Burrata is a cow’s milk cheese with an outer layer of fresh mozzarella, and a filling of cream and curds. It is a mild flavored cheese, and is great when served with fresh bread as an appetizer, or in a salad. It comes packed in tubs of water and can be found in the specialty cheese area of most grocery stores.

How should burrata be eaten?

Burrata is finest when served at room temperature, and is a great topping for salads, pizza or pasta. I always add a little olive oil, salt and pepper to my burrata before serving to enhance the mild silky flavor.

FOLLOW ME

A platter of burrata salad with tomatoes, cheese, basil and dressing.

Burrata Salad Flavor Variations

This salad is fabulous as-is, but you can add other ingredients to make the flavors your own.

Fruit: It is quite common to pair tomatoes with summer fruit such as peaches, apricots or cherries.
Vegetables: Feel free to add more veggies to the mix such as sliced red onion, cucumbers, roasted red peppers or fresh corn. You can also add salad greens such as arugula or butter lettuce.
Protein: Make it a main course by adding cooked crumbled bacon or diced grilled chicken or shrimp.
Herbs: You can add more herbs such as green onions, chives, parsley, or even mint!
Toppings: Finish off your salad with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, toasted pine nuts, kalamata olives or a sprinkle of kitchen-made croutons.

To me, this burrata salad is the reliable summer offering. I make it weekly when tomatoes are in season, and there are never any leftovers!

More Salad Recipes To Try

Creamy cucumber salad with red onion and dill, topped with fresh herbs for garnish.

Silky Cucumber Salad

11 mins

Tomato Avocado Salad

11 mins

Green Bean Salad

18 mins

Black Bean Salad

21 mins

BLT Pasta Salad

20 mins

Love This Recipe?

Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

Add as Google preferred source Authorthe Makdob kitchen A serving plate of burrata salad with heirloom tomatoes, basil and lemon dressing.

This burrata salad is a blend of fresh tomatoes, silky cheese and basil leaves, all drizzled with a unfussy lemon dressing. An straightforward and elegant side dish that is reliable for summer entertaining! Time Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 minute
Total Time16 minutes

Course Salad
Cuisine American
Serves 4

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
kosher salt and pepper to taste
3 cups tomatoes assorted varieties, sliced or cut into wedges
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
8 ounces burrata cheese drained
coarse or flaky sea salt for garnish
bread for serving optional

Instructions

Place the olive oil, lemon juice, kosher salt and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
Arrange the tomatoes, basil and burrata balls on a serving plate. You can use the burrata balls whole, or cut them into quarters.
Drizzle the dressing over the top.
Sprinkle with coarse or flaky salt. Serve immediately, with bread if desired.

Notes

You may be wondering why this recipe calls for two types of salt. It’s better to use a standard kosher salt in the dressing so it will dissolve, then add the sprinkle of coarse salt over the end as a finishing touch.
You can use any ripe tomatoes for the salad, but I prefer to use a variety of heirloom tomatoes for the different colors and textures.
This salad is finest when eaten immediately, so plan accordingly with your timing.