Fig and Burrata Salad Recipe: 3 Tips for Making Burrata Salad

Burrata is a soft, cow’s milk cheese, occasionally made from buffalo milk. This Italian cheese resembles a soft, pliable dumpling, with an outer skin of fresh mozzarella and a filling of stracciatella, a loose, creamy mixture made from pulled mozzarella curds and heavy cream.

Some farmers markets offer handmade burrata, but most grocery stores stock packaged options alongside the fresh cheeses.

Burrata salad is a composed seasonal salad consisting of burrata cheese and complementary ingredients (though many recipes feature summer tomatoes). Served as both an appetizer or side dish, it is a quintessential summer salad that’s easily customizable. You can pair creamy burrata with whichever seasonal ingredients you prefer, including raw zucchini ribbons, roasted butternut squash, or winter citrus.

Use burrata in a classic Caprese salad, with fresh tomatoes (big hunks of ripe heirloom tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes) and fresh basil, or incorporate it into a prosciutto and melon antipasto. Add a pop of green to the salad with fresh arugula, garlicky sautéed kale, and a drizzle of pesto, or top it with a blend of fresh chopped herbs (like basil, mint, cilantro, and parsley) tossed in lemon juice and kosher salt.

Burrata salad is all about balance. Here are some ideas on what to include in your own recipe:

1. 1. Incorporate fruit: Pair the creamy, milky sweetness of the cheese with fresh figs, peeled and segmented citrus, or stone fruit like peaches and nectarines. Keep the fruit at room temperature to contrast the chilled cheese.
2. 2. Add texture with hand-torn croutons or toasted nuts: Serve burrata salad alongside a loaf of rustic, crusty bread or crostini, thinly sliced, and toasted baguette. Alternatively, sprinkle it with a layer of homemade croutons.
3. 3. Use high-quality ingredients: Burrata salad is the perfect vehicle for a top-shelf, fruity, aromatic bottle of olive oil: Each ingredient shines in the salad, so choose each one at the peak of ripeness.