Heirloom Tomato Salad Board (Print View)

Colorful heirloom tomatoes with burrata, basil oil, and sea salt—a fresh Mediterranean centerpiece for sharing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Tomatoes

01 - 1.75 lbs assorted heirloom tomatoes in various colors and sizes, sliced or halved

→ Cheese

02 - 2 balls fresh burrata cheese (approximately 9 oz total)

→ Basil Oil

03 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
04 - 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1 small garlic clove
06 - Pinch of salt

→ Garnishes & Extras

07 - Flaky sea salt, to taste
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
09 - 1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted
10 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
11 - Crusty bread or crostini, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Combine basil leaves, olive oil, garlic clove, and a pinch of salt in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and bright green. Strain through a fine sieve for a refined texture, if desired. Set aside for assembly.
02 - On a large serving board or platter, artfully arrange sliced heirloom tomatoes in overlapping layers or clusters to showcase their vibrant colors and varied shapes.
03 - Tear the burrata cheese into generous pieces and nestle them among the arranged tomatoes, distributing evenly across the board.
04 - Generously drizzle the prepared basil oil over the tomatoes and burrata, ensuring even coverage.
05 - Sprinkle flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper over the entire board. Scatter toasted pine nuts and additional fresh basil leaves on top for texture and visual appeal.
06 - Serve immediately with crusty bread or crostini on the side for guests to enjoy alongside the salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The colors alone will make everyone reach for their phones before diving in - its genuinely the most photogenic thing youll put on your table all summer.
  • When youre melting in July heat and cant bear to turn on the oven, this impressive spread takes just minutes but looks like you spent hours.
02 -
  • Room temperature tomatoes release their full flavor - I once served this with refrigerator-cold tomatoes and it was like eating beautiful cardboard.
  • A mix of different sized tomatoes creates the most visually interesting board - cherry tomatoes fill gaps perfectly between larger slices and provide perfect bite-sized options.
03 -
  • If you cant find burrata, buffalo mozzarella is a close second, but tear rather than slice it for that rustic look that invites people to dig in.
  • When making the basil oil, blanching the leaves in boiling water for 5 seconds then shocking in ice water keeps the color vibrantly green even after several hours.
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