How Is Burrata Cheese Traditionally Served?

fresh burrata on a plate with a basil leaf

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Burrata is a show-stopping cheese you can often find atop pizzas or pasta dishes in honor of its Italian origins. But we were left wondering: How do Italians actually serve it? We consulted Sarah Grueneberg, chef and owner of Chicago’s Monteverde restaurant and author of “Listen to Your Vegetables,” for her expertise on traditional Italian servings for burrata. “In Italy, burrata is served whole and usually near room temp with light chill (not straight out of the fridge),” Grueneberg said. “It’s dressed simply with great EVOO and sea salt and served with grilled bread.”

The fresh, rich flavor and unique textural contrast of the bouncy mozzarella exterior and creamy curdy stracciatella interior needs little embellishment. Still, Grueneberg has more elaborate serving ideas. She told Tasting Table, “I like to offer great seasonal fruits and veggies alongside it – like tomatoes, peaches, plums – along with olives and fresh herbs so guests can build their own bruschetta bites.” Tomatoes are umami-rich, ultra juicy and at the heart of Italian cuisine. They also serve a classic pairing for all types of cheese. Mozzarella and stracciatella, the two components in burrata, are classic pizza cheeses placed atop tomato sauce. Plums and peaches are popular summer stone fruits known for their juicy pulp and balance of tangy and sweet flavor profiles. You could make a fresh salad of diced tomatoes and peaches with torn basil leaves tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette to top a slice of baguette as a flavorful foundation for a hunk of burrata.

Tips for enjoying burrata alone and in other dishes

burrata with grilled peaches, prosciutto, basil and a wooden honey dipper.

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According to chef Grueneberg, Italians enjoy burrata closer to room temperature, which is a tip worth following, no matter how you serve it. Serving burrata cold will mute its flavors, so a room temperature cheese is the best way to maximize its creamy savoriness. Grilled bread is a great way to provide a crispy, sturdy foundation to contrast the creamy, bouncy cheese. In keeping with the Italian theme, ciabatta would be a nice type of bread to grill. You can toast baguette slices for a more sturdy bruschetta. We would also recommend using the ultra crunchy, olive oil soaked crostini as a foundational vessel to enjoy the cheese.

Because very few embellishments are needed to serve burrata, you want to make sure they are of the highest quality. Check out our list of best extra virgin olive oil brands to find the most complex earthy, spicy flavor profile to complement the rich cheese. Of course, the burrata brand itself has to be the best, and we think Vantia is the best burrata cheese brand on store shelves right now. If you want to bring more earthy flavors to the table, try topping a burrata crostini with a drizzle of fresh pesto. Serve a ball of burrata over an arugula salad dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. You can even make a meal out of the salad by adding some prosciutto.