Burrata Cheese with Strawberries and Balsamic is a sophisticated appetizer or snack when strawberries are in season. It make a wonderful appetizer when entertaining and allows you to spend more time with your guests as it comes together in just 20 minutes. Actually, give me this for dinner with a nice pinot noir and you have won my heart forever!
Growing up my grandmother always had strawberries in the house, either fresh or preserved which she preserved herself. It was the best jam ever served on warm, fresh out of the oven homemade biscuits.
Strawberries are fabulously firm and oh so juicy with a wonderfully sweet and sour flavor with those little crunchy seeds – what can be better?
Luckily I live just a few miles from the strawberry capital of the world – Ponchatoula, Louisiana. We love our strawberries so much we even have an annual festival to celebrate all of their goodness.
The rich, milky, and buttery flavor of the burrata cheese with it’s creamy interior and soft, fresh exterior pairs perfectly with the fresh strawberries.
The additional of balsamic vinegar adds a complex sweetness with a mellow tartness and ever so slightly smokiness that pairs delectably with the strawberries and brings out all of its wonderful sweetness.
The sprinkle of pistachios on top adds just the right amount of crunch!
Ingredients in Burrata Cheese with Strawberries and Balsamic:
Burrata Cheese. Think Mozzarella only better! Oh so creamy and rich with a milky, buttery flavor.
Strawberries. I love strawberries, I mean who doesn’t? But really, almost any good fruit that is in season with work well. Think peaches, plums, pears or even blueberries. Personally, I am ticking off the days until figs are in season. They are heavenly with the cheese and vinegar.
Pistachios. The mild and slightly sweet flavor of the pistachios adds just the right amount of crunch and rounds out the creaminess of the burrata and the soft flesh of the strawberries.
Arugula. The peppery and slightly spice taste of the arugula adds just the right notes to compliment the sweetness of the strawberries.
Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and honey all mixed together makes for the most divine drizzling sauce.
Thyme. The earthy almost minty flavor of the thyme helps bring out all of the natural sweetness of the strawberries.
Artisanal bread. Any kind of good, sturdy bread will work well. My personal favorite is a 7-grain sour dough.
How to Make Burrata Cheese with Strawberries and Balsamic:
- Drizzle olive oil on the bread, sprinkle with salt and bake until nice and toasty.
- Top with arugula, torn burrata and sliced strawberries.
- Mix together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and honey. Drizzle over strawberries.
- Sprinkle with thyme and crushed pistachios.
That’s it! Couldn’t be simpler.
What is Burrata Cheese?
If you love mozzarella cheese as much as I do, run, don’t walk, to your local store to get your hands on this fresh cheese. Trust me, your taste buds can’t possibly get any happier then when you bite into this soft, creamy cheese.
Burrata is a while sphere of cheese, like mozzarella, that comes in a light brine of water and salt. It has an exterior shell of mozzarella but with an interior of curd tha has been soaked in cream.
This is a fresh cheese, so you do have to pay attention to the expiration date as it does not last long Generally speaking you will want to use it within 48 hours of purchase.
Buying Burrata Cheese:
Look for cheese that was manufactured within the last day. You want the freshest burrata you can find. The cheese is immersed water and salt that dissipates quickly.
Keep the burrata cheese refrigerated until 30 minutes prior to use and try to use it within 48 hours of purchase. It will still be good after this time period, just not as fantastic. The longer you wait to consume it, the less creamy it becomes.
Taking the burrata out 30 minutes prior to use allows it to warm up just a little and keeps that wonderful creamy core from becoming too firm.
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If you love it, leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you and this would help me with future recipes!
Contact me if you would like to see any of your childhood favorites updated or reinvented.
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Burrata Cheese with Strawberries and Balsamic
Ingredients
- Artisanal bread cut into 1/4-inch slices baguette, for about 12 pieces
- 4 tbsp. olive oil divided
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 8-ounce ball of burrata cheese
- 3/4 cup arugual
- 3/4 cup strawberries sliced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 3 tbsp. pistachios crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Drizzle the baguette slices on both sides with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Place the slices on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Bake for 10 minutes, rotating halfway through.
- Mix together the balsamic vinegar, honey and remaining salt. Drizzle in the remaining olive oil, whisking to emulsify the mixture.
- Carefully drain and dry the burrata. Tear into small pieces using a fork.
- Place the burrata on each baguette. Top with arugula, sliced strawberries, a drizzle of the balsamic mixture, fresh thyme, and crushed pistachios.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Dishes you May Enjoy:
Fail-Proof Spicy Asian Chicken Bites
The Savoriest Cajun Blackened Chicken
This is SO GOOD!!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you loved it. 🙂