Spring is almost officially here and we couldn’t be happier! This is the perfect season for a refreshing and tasty burrata caprese salad paired with a light chardonnay and your significant other. Even for those who do not feel like sharing, a burrata caprese recipe is a great way to enjoy a relaxing weekend. This recipe is simple to make and brings a sense of elegance to any outdoor gathering. You’ll want to keep this easy burrata caprese salad recipe handy for this season’s invites to upcoming outdoor barbecues and events.
What is Burrata Caprese?
Who doesn’t love cheese? Since no hands were raised, it’s safe to conclude that cheese is life and burrata is no exception. Burrata is often confused with mozzarella but make no mistake; they are not the same. Burrata is a soft, creamy cheese with a solid outer layer that makes one feel as if a present is being unwrapped. Once this outer shell is cut open, the gift is revealed as a smooth and creamy interior that seeps slowly onto the plate. It is an experience like no other!
Caprese refers to a simple Italian salad that includes tomatoes, basil, salt, olive oil, and your choice of burrata or mozzarella cheese. Caprese with burrata is meant to feature all of the colors of the Italian flag. The name caprese literally means “salad of Capri” and is said to have originated from a dish made on the Italian island.
Easy Burrata Caprese Salad Recipe
Since we can’t visit Capri at the moment, we can bring Capri to you. Our travels throughout Italy led us to the Italian island and beyond. We returned with our own modern twist on burrata caprese made with heirloom tomatoes, local burrata, mint pistachio pesto, balsamic glaze, olive oil, and salt. As one of our most popular salads, it’s best enjoyed with live jazz on a cool evening. If you can’t make it to our restaurant or simply want to take caprese with burrata to a dinner party, this recipe will be a hit! Here’s a burrata caprese recipe everyone will love:
Ingredients:
- Burrata cheese
- Black pepper
- Basil
- Three to four 4 heirloom tomatoes
Dressing:
- Four teaspoons of olive oil
- Three teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of salt
Preparation:
- Phase 1: Place the burrata in the middle of a plate or bowl and be careful not to pierce the skin.
- Phase 2: Now take your tomatoes and slice them into thick wedges. Place them around the burrata and add the basil leaves.
- Phase 3: Combine the dressing ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk them together.
- Phase 4: Drizzle the dressing over the tomatoes and season with black pepper.
- Phase 5: When serving, make a small incision in the burrata and allow it to seep out onto the plate. Your guests will thank you for it!
Premium Ingredients Make Burrata Caprese Great
For those of you who are trying this burrata caprese recipe for the first time, we’d like to make some suggestions. While a burrata recipe can be simple, the ingredients should be of high quality to bring out the best flavors and textures of the dish. Premium ingredients like heirloom tomatoes, or extra virgin olive oil make this burrata caprese recipe exceptional. Here’s why:
- Heirloom tomatoes or regular tomatoes – Although heirloom tomatoes are more expensive than the regular ones, you can trust you are getting the real thing. Heirloom tomatoes are grown from seeds that have been used for generations and are not commercially grown. For this reason, they are also referred to as heritage tomatoes, family heirlooms, or created heirlooms. They have a much shorter shelf life than regular tomatoes and are more prone to disease but taste great! Since tomatoes continue to ripen when picked from the vine, let your tomatoes sit on the counter if they are still hard. You’ll notice that most grocery stores will store their tomatoes based on ripeness. Depending on how quickly you plan to use them, you’ll want to choose the firm tomatoes from the bottom and the most ripest tomatoes from the top.
- Extra virgin olive oil or regular olive oil – In its most simplest form, olive oil is extracted from olive tree fruit. The different varieties of olive oil that you see in your local grocery store are a result of the various processes used to extract the oil and the additives used to enhance the flavor. When shopping for olive oil, you’ll also notice the differences in color. Some brands have a darker hue and others are lighter in color. This deceptive practice may lead you to believe that it is an indication of quality or taste but it is irrelevant. What distinguishes one brand of olive oil from another is the level of acidity it contains. An olive oil brand’s level of acidity is referred to as oleic acid, which defines how much fat is broken down into fatty acids during the extraction process. The process is the key to creating refined and unrefined olive oil. Here’s what that means:
- Refined – The extraction process treats the oil and removes flaws like aroma, color, flavor, and bitterness. Refined olive oil is missing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties as a result of a more rigid production process.
- Unrefined – During this extraction process, heat is not used which allows the oil to maintain its purity and taste. Since the production standards are not as high, these olive oil brands have a higher level of oleic acid. What is burrata caprese without extra virgin olive oil? Extra virgin olive oil is unrefined and the highest quality you can get. It retains its olive taste as well as the vitamins and minerals typically found in organic olives due to its limited exposure to heat, chemicals, and low levels of oleic acid. You’ll notice that this brand has a golden olive color and full flavor. Extra virgin olive oil is best used for bread dipping, dressings, and burrata caprese salad. Save the less expensive olive oil for cooking since they burn at much lower temperatures.
- Burrata cheese – This is the star of the show so you’ll want to get the best burrata cheese you can find. It looks similar to mozzarella cheese but looks can be deceiving. The burrata recipe is crafted by hand and the texture is created by feel alone. Direct from Italy, burrata cheese is produced by milk from buffaloes who’ve grazed on the green hills of Apulia. Because the burrata recipe requires no aging, it is best consumed within a day or two after production. There are no additives, artificial flavors or fillers, or preservatives. You can expect a pure, gluten-free cheese experience created by hand.
What is Burrata Caprese Without Music?
Imagine enjoying our burrata caprese salad with focaccia bread and your favorite wine during happy hour while listening to jazz as the sun sets in Miami. The soothing sounds of live instruments combined with the explosion of flavor in your mouth is the perfect way to start the weekend. Take advantage of our half-priced bottles of wine on Mondays or enjoy your favorite pasta dish on Wednesday Pasta Night!
We haven’t forgotten about pizza lovers. Our Tuesday Artisanal Pizza Night is here to fulfill your pizza cravings. Just remember to add one of our signature cocktails to take your dinner up another notch. If you want to throw a private pizza party or host an event, we have you covered.
Give us a call today to reserve your table!
