Though still a relatively little-known cheese, burrata has started to pop up in both restaurants and home kitchens. Similar in shape and texture to fresh mozzarella, burrata is made from cow’s milk and has a much creamier inside. This makes it perfect for melting into pizzas, spreading on crostini and serving with soft fruits like melon.
If you’ve fallen in love with this creamy, soft Italian cheese and wondering exactly how to eat burrata, look no further. We have all the best ways to prep and serve this buttery cheese, whether you’re enjoying it as an appetizer for two or want to feed a crowd.
How to Prepare Burrata
Preparing burrata as an appetizer can really make for an elevated experience.
What temperature should burrata be served at?
In order to enjoy the full effect of burrata, serve this cheese at room temperature. When you’re ready to eat, simply take it out of the fridge, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This will allow the buttery flavor and the soft creamy inside to shine.
How can I season burrata?
Some soft cheeses are perfect for creating simple, yet flavor-packed dishes (we’re looking at you, whipped feta). Because burrata cheese is bursting with natural flavor, simple seasoning can go a long way. Drizzle burrata with a bit of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and crushed black pepper.
How to Serve Burrata
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Once your burrata cheese is prepped, it’s ready to serve. You can pair burrata with all kinds of fruits and vegetables, or add it to a charcuterie or cheese board.
Which vegetables or fruits should I pair with burrata?
The creaminess of burrata lends well to fruit pairings. These grilled nectarines with burrata are one of our favorites, and if you’re looking for something that can serve more people, burrata boards are the way to go. Foods like stone fruits, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries and cherries are perfect because of their bright, punchy flavors. Drizzle the top of the cheese with balsamic vinaigrette for extra pizzazz.
Which meats pair well with burrata?
Prosciutto is one of the most common pairings with burrata because the saltiness goes so well with the buttery cheese flavor. Slightly smoother than prosciutto is pancetta. Love a bit of crunch in your dishes? Crisp up the pancetta before pairing it with burrata!
How to add burrata to a charcuterie board
The easiest way to add burrata to a charcuterie board is to swap it in for mozzarella. Place the ball of burrata in a small bowl, put the bowl in the center of the board, and fan prosciutto around the bowl. Tuck in a bed of arugula, fresh basil or mint around the meat and then add a layer of fruit.
Of course, if you want to skip all the accoutrements and go for something simple, you can never go wrong with a crostini recipe. Toast small slices of a baguette and add olive oil. Place a cheese knife in the burrata bowl for easy spreading. Need a quick snack or a simple app? Start with our classic burrata toast.
How to Eat Burrata
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In the mood for more of a meal than an appetizer? Burrata cheese can be a fun (read: totally incredible and you need to try it immediately) substitute for other soft cheeses.
Can I add burrata to a salad?
The most recognizable salad you might use burrata in is Caprese salad. Swap the mozzarella for a ball of burrata in the center and spread slices of fresh tomato and basil leaves around the burrata. Full disclosure, you may never go back to mozzarella again. You can also make apeach burrata salad, burrata Caprese and Caprese pasta salad.
How to add burrata to a pasta dish
Whether you’re making classic spaghetti or opting for zoodle recipes, burrata is a fantastic way to add extra creaminess. Rather than melting the cheese into the sauce, roughly chop the burrata cheese onto the top of the dish before serving. The soft inside of the burrata will naturally blend with the sauce and noodles, making your dish that much more rich. Learn how to make burrata pasta.
Swap mozzarella for burrata on homemade pizza
If you haven’t seen it by now, we are here to put you on to burrata pizza. If the name alone already has your mouth watering, you’re not the only one. Burrata pizza is all over TikTok, and for good reason. With a base of cheese and tomatoes on crispy dough, burrata is here to make cheese dreams come true in a way mozzarella never could.
Burrata pizza is baked with relatively little cheese. Then, a ball of room temperature burrata is placed on the center of the pizza once it’s done cooking. Slice into that piece of heaven, and you might have a new favorite dinner.
How Long Will Burrata Last?
Because burrata is a soft cheese, it will have a shorter shelf life than semi-hard or hard cheeses. If you get this cheese fresh, it’s best to eat it immediately or within one or two days of opening. Burrata leftovers should be refrigerated to prevent any bacteria growth.
If your burrata is packaged in water, this will extend the shelf life. BelGioioso’s 8-ounce container of burrata has a shelf life of 37 days if unopened, for example.
Looking for a sign to break out that nice bottle of wine? Check out these wine and cheese pairings to have the ultimate dinner date in.
