One of my favorite things about summer are the tomatoes! I wait all year long for those huge, sweet and meaty beauties. Although the tomatoes are still not at their best in May, I am already buying them whenever I see them at the grocery store!
Last weekend we had friends over for dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Every time that happens my refrigerator ends up packed with food for several days! So after all the partying on the weekend, we decided that, on Monday, we just had to have a "fridge clean-up dinner". That is how I end up making this salad. I had a couple of heirloom tomatoes that had to be eaten, some left over basil and, the crown jewel, I had a burrata cheese that was screaming "eat me".
Have you had Burrata cheese before? If you haven't, you have a mission to accomplish this weekend! Burrata is simply an amazing Italian cheese. Here is how it generally looks like:
The outer layer of the Burrata is fresh mozzarella. But when you open it....
...you will find a soft mixture of fresh mozzarella AND cream. It just melts in your mouth!
Burrata and tomatoes are perfect together. So that was what I decided to make that Monday. This turned out to be such a refreshing salad, perfect for summer time!
Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Cheese Salad
this salad can serve 2 to 4 people depending on portion size
Ingredients
2 cups (about 2 tomatoes) chopped tomatoes, excess seeds removed
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons very good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
1 to 2 burrata cheese balls, cut into halves
Directions
In a medium bowl, stir together all ingredients but the burrata cheese. Adjust salt and pepper, if necessary. Divide salad into 2 to 4 salad plates and top each salad with half of a burrata cheese. Drizzle burrata with your favorite olive oil and add a little extra freshly ground pepper on top. Serve.
tips
1- this salad can be served right away or, you can cover the tomato mixture and place it in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes before eating. Only add the burrata when it is time to serve the salad.
2- Serve it with crostini or crusty bread.
Looks amazing! Now if I can just figure how to get, or make, the burrata...
ReplyDeleteMark, you can find burrata at some of the major grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's etc. Thanks for your comment!
ReplyDelete