10-Minute Heirloom Tomato Burrata Salad

My heirloom tomato burrata salad is an elevated take on your classic caprese salad. It features vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes, creamy whole milk burrata cheese, sweet basil, balsamic reduction, and extra virgin olive oil. Whether you want a light meal for days when it’s just too hot to cook or an appetizer that will outshine the main, this 10-minute burrata salad’s got you covered!

Tomatoes: What makes an heirloom an heirloom?

An heirloom tomato is a non-hybrid tomato that grows from seeds passed down from season to season. While it lacks the uniform color, shape, and size of your standard grocery store hybrid, it more than makes up for it in flavor. In fact, the first time I tried one – a yellow one, straight from my grandpa’s garden – I”m pretty sure my eyes lit up the way my dog’s do when I give him bacon. It was so good, I ate the rest of it right there.

Heirloom tomatoes come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. They can be small, like cherry tomatoes in my grilled basil pesto chicken with charred tomatoes, but some can grow as large as two pounds. The flavors found in heirloom tomatoes are unique to their own variety, but they all tend to be meatier, juicier, and more flavorful than the more common hybrid tomatoes.

While they are fairly easy to grow, if you are seeking to buy heirloom tomatoes, try your farmer’s market first. Often, the only heirlooms I find in grocery stores are organic and come with a hefty price tag to match.

How to Make Your Own Balsamic Reduction

Simply simmer balsamic vinegar on the stove over a medium-low flame until it reduces by half or a third and takes on a syrupy texture. Note, I said simmer, not boil. You don’t want it to burn, and you can’t tell by color because balsamic has such a dark color to begin with. You’ll know it’s done when it coats the back of a spoon.

And if you have some left, don’t let it go to waste in the back of the fridge! I recommend using it for this delicious grilled steak with peaches and onions or drizzle it over vanilla ice cream.

The Difference Between Mozzarella and Burrata

A standard caprese salad, or insalata caprese, uses standard mozzarella cheese. This heirloom tomato and burrata salad recipe uses a not-so-standard burrata cheese. While all burrata is mozzarella, not all mozzarella is a creamy burrata cheese. 

Mozzarella is a soft, white cheese native to Italy. You can buy it in most grocery stores. It’s often sold in small, medium, or large balls that are packed in a saltwater or whey brine. Most caprese salads use this type of soft, high-moisture mozzarella. Being a very basic cheese, you can even make mozzarella at home with this 30-minute mozzarella recipe.

Burrata is what you get when you stuff mozzarella with more mozzarella and cream. During the stretching phase of the mozzarella making, a hunk of mozzarella is stretched into a pouch of sorts. They then fill this pouch with leftover mozzarella and top it off with cream before sealing it shut. It has a very creamy, almost buttery consistency when sliced. Like most fresh mozzarella, it’s packaged in a saltwater or whey brine.

You can find it in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store. If you cannot find it, soft mozzarella is the next best thing.

A Bed of Greens to Serve Burrata Tomato Salad 

The last thing that makes this salad a bit different than your standard caprese salad is the bed of greens. While they do provide a beautiful pop of color, that isn’t the only reason they are there. They also provide the perfect way to get every last bite of flavor from the plate to your mouth.

Between the juiciness of the tomatoes, the creaminess of the burrata, and the remnants of the olive oil and balsamic reduction, this salad leaves you with a wonderfully delicious tomato balsamic vinaigrette on your plate.

While I totally approve of licking the plate clean, that doesn’t always fly at the dinner table. So, I serve mine on a bed of salad greens. While any greens would work, I would find that tender young greens work best. I used a combination of red leaf butter lettuce and baby spinach. Alternatively, you could serve this salad with a crusty baguette for wiping the plate, but I love any excuse to eat more greens.

Directions to Make 10-Minute Heirloom Tomato Burrata Salad Recipe:

There is nothing like a satisfying and delicious recipe that is also fast and easy. Whip up your own heirloom tomato burrata salad in just 10 minutes!

• Chop heirloom tomatoes into even-sized chunks.
• Slice burrata cheese balls in half.
• Chiffonade fresh basil leaves (roll and thinly slice).
• Prepare salad plates with a base of salad greens.
• Place a half burrata ball in the center of each plate, gently opened to expose the creamy center.
• Surround with chopped tomatoes.
• Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic reduction.
• Sprinkle with basil, salt and pepper.

Serving and Storage Suggestions 

Prepare this 10-minute heirloom tomato burrata salad right before you serve it. If you have half of a ball of burrata leftover, don’t put it back in the liquid it came in. Instead, place it directly into a resealable container and refrigerate. Once open, burrata is best within 24 hours, but use your own discretion. If it’s been more than a day, check it before you use it.

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10-Minute Heirloom Tomato Burrata Salad

My 10-minute heirloom tomato Burrata Salad is an elevated take on a classic caprese salad. Featuring vine ripened, heirloom tomatoes, fresh burrata cheese, and a tangy balsamic reduction this salad is perfect for summer.

4.5 stars (4 ratings)

prep: 10 minutes minutes

total: 10 minutes minutes

servings: 4 servings

author: Renee N Gardner

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Ingredients

• 1 lb heirloom tomatoes
• 2 cups salad greens
• 4 ounces burrata cheese
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic reduction*
• 12 medium basil leaves
• flake sea salt
• coarse ground pepper

Instructions

• Chop the tomatoes into even sized pieces, about 1/2″ to 3/4″ chunks. Slice the burrata balls in half. Chiffonade the basil by rolling the leaves together then thinly slicing with a sharp knife.

To Assemble:

• Start with a base of salad greens, about 1/2 cup per person.
• Place a half burrata ball in the center of the salad greens, gently flipped out to expose the creamy center.
• Arrange 4 ounces of chopped tomatoes around the burrata, about 1/2 cup per person.
• Drizzle on 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of balsamic reduction on each salad.
• Sprinkle with basil, sea salt, and ground pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately.

Recommended Kitchen Tools

cutting board

Knife

Small saucepan

Wooden Spoon

Metal Spoon

Tongs

Shallow Bowls

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Notes

*To make your own balsamic reduction, start with with 3/4 cup of balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. Reduce by simmering over a medium low heat until reduced to 1/2 – 1/3. The final sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and have a syrup-like consistency.

Nutrition

Serving: 1saladCalories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 8gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 342mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is for general information purposes only. For the most accurate information, calculate using your select brands and exact measurements.

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