Burrata with Tomatoes, Pesto, and Toast

Burrata Toast with Tomatoes and Pesto is an easy dish that takes advantage of garden produce! Made with only a handful of ingredients, this recipe is perfect for a light summer dinner or easy appetizer.

A dish full of two balls of burrata, halved cherry tomatoes, pesto, fresh basil, and slices of toast with a spoon in it.

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Ingredients
How to make burrata toast
Top tips
FAQ
More easy summer recipes
Recipe

I love food. There's so much good food, you guys. There just isn't enough time to eat it all!

This is pretty much what's running through my head any time I need to decide what to eat. I decide on canned butter beans, because they're delicious even though they sound boring, but then I remember that oven roasted corn and black bean pico de gallo is a thing, and corn is in season, and OMG what about tomato soup?!

Now add to the list of foods I want to eat all day every day but there's never enough time - burrata toast with tomatoes and pesto. It's basically summer on a slice of bread, making it perfect for a light dinner or easy appetizer.

Ingredients

Whole grain bread
Olive oil
Grape or cherry tomatoes
Burrata
Basil pesto
Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
Fresh basil, optional

A dish full of two balls of burrata, halved cherry tomatoes, pesto, fresh basil, and slices of toast.

How to make burrata toast

Preheat the broiler to high. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and drizzle lightly with olive oil on both sides. Broil on the highest oven rack until lightly brown and toasty, about 4 minutes. Flip and toast the other side.
Lay tomatoes and burrata in a serving dish and drizzle with olive oil.
Drop small spoonfuls of pesto on top and season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.
Serve by smearing burrata on toast and topping with a spoonful of the tomatoes.

Close up image of a ball of burrata in a dish with tomatoes, pesto, toast, and fresh basil.

Top tips

Make homemade pesto

I made fresh basil pesto from the basil in my garden, but other types of pesto would also be delicious here, including my Walnut Arugula Pesto, Spinach Pesto, or even my Pistachio Pesto.

How to find the best tomatoes

With just a few simple ingredients, it's important to look for the best quality tomatoes you can find.

You can use whatever fresh summer tomatoes you have on hand for this (those larger black ones were so soft and sweet!), but I'd definitely recommend using in-season produce rather than sad winter tomatoes.

It's ok to buy tomatoes that are a little underripe, since they will continue to ripen when stored at room temperature. Good tomatoes should be plump and feel firm with a little bit of give when gently squeezed.

Generally, a farmer's market will probably offer you the best tomatoes, as well as homegrown. It can be difficult to find really delicious tomatoes in regular grocery stores, but some of the higher end stores may have better options.

Close up image of a slice of toast topped with burrata, tomatoes, and pesto.

How to store burrata toast with tomatoes and pesto

I seriously doubt you'll have leftovers from this recipe since it's so delicious, but if you do, I recommend storing the burrata, pesto, and tomatoes separately from the toast. They can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Tips for customizing burrata toast:

If you can't find burrata, substitute full fat ricotta cheese
Serve on store-bought crostini for an extra time-saver
Use store-bought pesto, or try other flavors such as pistachio pesto, spinach pesto, or walnut arugula pesto
Add a few sliced peaches for extra flavor and nutrients
Drizzle the whole thing in a rich balsamic glaze

Close up image of two balls of burrata in a dish with tomatoes, pesto, toast, and fresh basil.

FAQ

What is burrata?

Burrata is a soft Italian cheese made from cow's milk. It has a solid outer mozzarella casing that holds the soft inside together. The inside consists of cream and soft curds of cheese.

This type of cheese comes packed in a brine (liquid) and is best served cold.

Where can I buy burrata?

Burrata can be found in most specialty cheese sections at the grocery store. It is sometimes only offered seasonally in the spring and summer, but is becoming more available year round.

A slice of toast topped with burrata, pesto, and tomatoes with a bite taken out of it.

More easy summer recipes

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Recipe