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An Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad tossed with fresh basil in a garlicky balsamic vinaigrette just feels like summer. This salad capitalizes on all the goodness heirloom tomatoes have to offer.
Oh, baby, if this salad doesn't scream summer then I don't know what will! Our friends have gone out of the country for a couple of weeks, and we've been the fortunate recipients of their CSA from Lancaster Farms while they're gone. This means a whole lot of vegetables and fruits we don't always buy that we have to figure out what to do with. What does one do with cubanelle peppers? Or blue hyssop? Then there were some serious crowd favorites in the box like these beautiful heirloom tomatoes.
Aren't heirlooms just the most gorgeous imperfect things you've ever seen? They kind of mirror the human experience. Sometimes we're gnarly on the outside but it's the inner beauty that counts...or something like that.
This heirloom tomato and burrata salad is less of a recipe and more of a PSA to remember to go buy up as many heirloom tomatoes as you can. The end-of-summer tomatoes are the absolutely best. These heirloom tomatoes are drop-down-your-chin juicy and flavorful you could eat them like an apple.
When you toss the tomatoes with fresh basil and a garlicky balsamic vinaigrette, you've got a delicious summer side. And the more gnarly the better for heirloom tomatoes!
Jump to:
- Not Your Mama's Heirlooms
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad
- Variations to Mix It Up
- Making Balsamic Vinaigrette Quick
- Storing the Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad
- Other Summer Salads
Not Your Mama's Heirlooms
We ain't talkin' about your mama's precious ring here. Tomatoes can be heirlooms, too.
Heirloom tomatoes get from the seeds used to plant them. Heirloom tomatoes are grown from the seeds of the best variety of tomatoes, allowing farmers to customize the tomatoes for the best flavor, shape, and color. Most heirloom tomatoes are not genetically modified. Most are naturally pollinated by insects, flowers, and wind, not humans.
Heirloom tomatoes come in a variety of different colors and shapes. Some look very much like regular red vine-ripe tomatoes. Others look craggly and misshapen, ranging in a variety of beautiful colors.
No matter how they look, heirloom tomatoes are an absolute summertime pleasure in the months of July and August (and even part of September). Aside from this simple heirloom tomato and burrata salad, I love these tomatoes in a classic Southern tomato pie.
Ingredients You'll Need
You'll need the following ingredients to make this heirloom tomato and burrata salad:
- heirloom tomatoes - I prefer getting them in a variety of colorsso the plate is stunningly beautiful!
- fresh basil leaves
- burrata
- balsamic vinegar
- honey
- garlic clove
- Dijon mustard
- sea salt
- ground black pepper
- extra-virgin olive oil
Don't forget to see the recipe card below for the exact quantities!
How to Make Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad
- Toss your tomatoes with the fresh basil and set aside.
- Make the vinaigrette but putting balsamic vinegar, honey, shaved garlic clove, Dijon mustard, sea salt, black pepper, and olive oil in a jar. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously until combined.
- Arrange tomatoes and basil on a large plate. Break the burrata into small hunks and nestle into the tomatoes. Drizzle the tomatoes with the balsamic vinaigrette and enjoy!
Variations to Mix It Up
Here are some variations you could do with their heirloom tomato and burrata salad:
- Add Perfect Pan-Seared Chicken Breast or Shrimp - it's a full on meal, baby!
- Add Other Fresh Herbs - this hairloom tomato and burrata recipe is a caprese situation with the fresh basil, but you could also add other fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley.
- Add Nuts - extra protein ain't never hurt nobody. Pistachios or pepitas would be my go-to nuts for this salad.
No matter how you switch up this simple tomato and burrata recipe, I strongly recommend serving with toasted bread. Crusty bread with fresh tomatoes if just heaven on a plate.
Making Balsamic Vinaigrette Quick
Do not skip on the balsamic vinaigrette. I repeat: Do not skip the balsamic vinaigrette for a store-bought kind. It's just not as good and making a homemade balsamic vinaigrette is a thousand times better and requires less than 5 minutes of your time. Simply throw the following ingredients into a jar:
- Balsamic vinegar
- Garlic
- Dijon mustard
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Close the lid tightly and shake it up vigorously until fully combined. This balsamic vinaigrette is liquid gold!
If you don't have a jar, combine all of the ingredients except olive oil together in a bowl. Then slowly add the olive oil while whisking to ensure the olive oil is emulsified.
Storing the Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad
I would strongly recommend you not make this salad ahead of time. If you do happen to have leftovers, store in the refrigerator. The tomatoes and the burrata will last in the fridge for 2 days.
Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad FAQ
Can I use regular tomatoes?
Yes, absolutely. Feel free to use vine ripe tomatoes, slicer tomatoes, or any other variety of tomato that you prefer. The heirloom tomatoes are a personal favorite of mine because they typically have a great flavor without being mealy (I hate mealy tomatoes). Heirloom tomatoes also make for a beautiful presentation.
Where do you find the best burrata?
You can get burrata at most any grocery store in the refrigerated cheese section. Burrata usually comes as one ball in a plastic container. We love to get ours from a speciality Italian market near our house. The burrata is insanely fresh and soft. Sometimes the store bought burrata can be on the hard side (more like mozzarella). You'll have to play around with the best brands.
What if I don't have burrata?
You can easily substitute mozzarella for burrata!
Can I prepare this salad in advance?
You can absolutely make the balsamic vinaigrette in advance. I recommend not cutting the tomatoes or tearing the burrata until you're ready to serve.
What to Serve with Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad
This salad would be perfect with pulled pork and pulled chicken, two of my favorite go-to summer main dishes. The tomato and burrata salad would also pair well with mouth-watering oven baked baby back ribs.
Pair the heirloom tomato and burrata salad with one of these other summertime main dish favorites:
- John's Maryland Baked Crab Cakes
- Flank Steak with Blueberry Balsamic Sauce
- Juicy Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops
Other Summer Salads
Here are a variety of other salads to add to your usual summer rotation:
- Copycat Sweetgreen Chicken Pesto Parm Salad Recipe
- Tomato and Peach Salad with Whipped Goat Cheese
- Rosemary Chicken Cobb Salad with Rosemary Vinaigrette
Happy end-of-summer, y'all!
xox
kathryn
As always, if you make anything from the blog, be sure to let me know! I love hearing from you in the comments on this post below or find Worn Slap Out onFacebook,Instagram, orPinterest!
Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
An Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad tossed in a garlicky balsamic vinaigrette just feels like summer. This salad capitalizes on all the goodness heirloom tomatoes have to offer.
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Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: caprese salad, healthy salads, summer side dish
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 140kcal
Ingredients
Salad
- 5-6 heirloom tomatoes in a variety of colors cut into 1" wedges or halved then sliced
- 12 fresh basil leaves julienned
- 1 ball burrata cheese
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 garlic clove grated
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients for the balsamic vinaigrette into a jar. Shake virogorusly until all combined. If you don't have a jar, combine all of the ingredients except for the olive oil in a bowl. Slowly pour olive oil into the mixture, whisking until the oil is emulsified.
Toss the cut tomatoes with the basil. Arrange tomatoes on a large plate. Place hunks of burrata nestled into the tomatoes. Pour the vinaigrette over the top and enjoy!
Notes
This salad is best enjoyed right after being made.
Leftovers: If you have leftovers, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It'll be delicious but the texture of the tomatoes and cheese will be different. The salad will be good for up to two days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 0.1mg | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 898IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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- Crispy Roasted Lentils
- Roasted Pumpkin and Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Pulled Chicken and Black Bean Chili
- Za'atar Bread Crumbs
