Burrata Caprese Salad

This burrata Caprese salad is the perfect plate for summer. Fresh plump tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, and balsamic vinegar and served with fresh burrata cheese and basil. 

The second that summer hits I’m ready for all things tomato.

That means I want them in salad form and my ultimate favorite form – summertime tomato sandwich.

This burrata Caprese salad is one of my favorites because it uses fresh summer tomatoes, freshly grown basil, and of course BURRATA!

It’s a simple twist to the classic Caprese salad and one that I actually like the most.

There is just nothing better than devouring a giant ball of Burrata.

Of course, if you’re looking for a more classic salad just replace the burrata with fresh sliced mozzarella.

What is Caprese salad?

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad that consists of fresh sliced mozzarella, tomatoes, sweet basil, and drizzled with olive oil.

It’s a traditional salad that pairs perfectly with grilled chicken or just eaten alone.

For this version, I replaced the mozzarella with burrata and added a little balsamic vinegar along with the olive oil.

It’s a simple change that brings in a burst of flavor but you can leave it off if you’re not a fan of balsamic vinegar.

What is burrata?

Burrata is a soft cow milk cheese that consists of a sturdier solid outer casing and is filled with a soft almost ricotta-like textured cheese on the inside.

When cut in half the inside is soft and somewhat spreadable.

This cheese tastes very similar to fresh mozzarella but with a creamier taste and texture.

You typically find it in the specialty cheese section of the grocery store and is bought and stored in a container submerged in water.

The water keeps the cheese moist and fresh so make sure to keep in the water in the fridge.

How do I make a burrata Caprese salad?

You only need a few simple ingredients to pull this salad off!

• Burrata – You can find this in most specialty cheese sections. It is typically found in a plastic container and submerged in water.
• Summer tomatoes – I personally think it’s VERY important to have the freshest summer tomatoes possible for this salad. Since it’s so simple you want to make sure the ingredients really sing.
• Sweet basil – Just a few simple leaves of fresh basil to really bring in that summer taste.
• Olive oil – I like to use a nice extra virgin olive oil for drizzling.
• Balsamic vinegar – I typically keep an aged balsamic on hand but a balsamic glaze would work well here too.
• Kosher salt – A few sprinkles of kosher salt to really bring out the flavor. I typically use Morton kosher salt.
• Fresh cracked pepper – It’s optional but a great addition for added flavor.

What changes can I make with this salad?

While this salad is 100% delicious as written if you’re looking for a few simple changes I have you covered!

First, I have a few recipes that give this a twist that you can find right on Nutmeg Nanny such as Tomato Peach Caprese Salad, Cantaloupe Prosciutto Caprese Salad, or my Pesto Chicken Caprese Pasta.

Other fun changes could be:

• Sliced avocado – this adds a nice California twist and a bit of healthy fat.
• Pesto – instead of adding a drizzle of fresh olive oil and fresh basil try drizzling the whole salad with freshly made basil pesto. This brings a HUGE bust of flavor that I personally love.
• Cherry tomatoes – using super sweet cherry tomatoes change the flavor slightly and give this salad a little fruiter of a taste.
• Mozzarella balls and pearls – instead of slicing up fresh mozzarella or using burrata you can instead use small 1-inch mozzarella balls or super tiny mozzarella pearls.

More delicious summer salads

• Looking for a fun summertime twist to the traditional Caprese? Try my Tomato Peach Caprese Salad.
• Love all things tomato and all things grilled bread? Try my Grilled Sourdough Panzanella Salad.
• Want the most classic summertime salad? Try my The Best Cucumber Salad.
• How about trying my favorite salad? Try my Lentil Couscous Goat Cheese Salad.