Description
A fresh and vibrant Pesto Caprese salad featuring heirloom tomatoes, creamy burrata, and a fragrant homemade basil pesto drizzle, topped with crunchy toasted panko for added texture. This quick and elegant dish is perfect as a light appetizer or a refreshing side.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomatoes and Garnish
- 2 large heirloom tomatoes
- 10 basil leaves (plus more for arranging on the tomatoes)
- 1 burrata ball
Pesto Sauce
- 1/3 cup olive oil (plus 1 tbsp for toasting panko)
- 10 basil leaves
- 3 tbsp chives
- 2 tbsp parmigiano
- 1 lemon zest (zest of one lemon)
- Seasoned salt (to taste)
Topping
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Toast Panko: Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toast them, stirring frequently, until they turn golden brown and crispy. Set aside to cool.
- Slice Tomatoes: Slice the heirloom tomatoes into rounds and then cut each round in half. This will create bite-sized pieces perfect for plating.
- Make Pesto: In a food processor, combine the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil, 10 basil leaves, parmigiano, chives, lemon zest, and seasoned salt. Process until the mixture is very smooth, about 2-3 minutes, creating a vibrant green herby oil.
- Arrange Tomatoes: On a serving plate, spread out the tomato halves and tuck in fresh basil leaves among them. Drizzle some of the prepared pesto oil over the tomatoes to infuse them with flavor.
- Add Burrata and Garnish: Place the burrata ball in the center of the plate. Drizzle more pesto oil over the burrata and scatter the toasted panko breadcrumbs over the tomatoes and around the burrata for pleasing crunch and texture.
Notes
- Use ripe, juicy heirloom tomatoes for the best flavor and presentation.
- Adjust the amount of seasoned salt in the pesto to your taste preference.
- For a nuttier pesto, you can add a handful of pine nuts or walnuts to the food processor.
- This recipe is best served immediately to enjoy the contrast of textures and freshness.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute the panko with gluten-free breadcrumbs or toasted nuts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Pesto Caprese, Burrata salad, Heirloom tomato recipe, Italian appetizer, Pesto sauce, Easy summer salad
