Ina Garten Tomatoes & Burrata

Ina Garten Tomatoes & Burrata takes no cooking, just five minutes and ripe summer tomatoes. She halves creamy burrata, piles heirloom tomatoes around it, and drizzles aged balsamic over everything. This make ahead party appetizer looks like effort but takes almost none.

Pick tomatoes that smell like summer at the stem end, because bland ones leave the dish flat. A thick aged balsamic matters too: its sweetness balances the creamy cheese and bright basil.

Source: Make It Ahead (2014)

Ina Garten Tomatoes and Burrata

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: AppetizerCuisine: American, ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

480

kcal

Creamy burrata sliced crosswise and plated with halved heirloom tomatoes, drizzled in olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar, then scattered with julienned basil and fleur de sel.

Ingredients

• 2 (8- to 10-ounce) balls of fresh burrata cheese
  

• 16 to 20 (2-inch diameter) heirloom tomatoes
  

• Good olive oil
  

• Aged balsamic vinegar
  

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  

• 20 fresh basil leaves, julienned
  

• Fleur de sel or sea salt
  

• Garlic Toasts

Directions

• Assemble the salads: Cut each ball of cheese in half crosswise and place the halves, cut side down, on 4 salad plates. Cut each tomato in half through the stem end and distribute them around the burrata. Drizzle the tomatoes and burrata generously with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. Scatter the basil on the salads, sprinkle with fleur de sel, and serve with Garlic Toasts.

Tools for this recipe

• Victorinox Fibrox 8-inch chef's knife, Le Saunier de Camargue fleur de sel. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I use regular mozzarella instead of burrata?

You can, but you'll miss the point. Burrata has a creamy, almost liquid center that regular mozzarella doesn't have. Fresh mozzarella works in a pinch, but the texture won't be the same. The burrata's softness is what makes each bite feel rich.

How far ahead can I assemble this dish?

You can't assemble it far in advance since the salt draws moisture from the tomatoes. Prep the basil and make the garlic toasts up to a day ahead, then plate everything right before you serve it.

What kind of balsamic vinegar should I use?

Go for an aged balsamic that's thick and slightly sweet, not the thin grocery store kind. A good aged balsamic has a syrupy texture that coats the tomatoes and cheese. You don't need the most expensive bottle, but skip anything that pours like water.

Can I use regular tomatoes instead of heirloom?

Heirloom tomatoes bring the sweetness and flavor this recipe depends on. If you can't find heirlooms, use the ripest tomatoes at the market. Avoid out-of-season tomatoes because they'll taste like nothing against rich burrata.

Do I need to serve this with garlic toasts?

The garlic toasts add crunch and something savory to scoop the burrata with, so they're a big part of the dish. You can substitute good crusty bread if you don't want to make toasts from scratch. Just make sure you have something to eat alongside the cheese and tomatoes.