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Vegetarian Recipes

Burrata with Heirloom Tomatoes

https://www.loveandlemons.com/burrata/

Over the years, I’ve written a lot about how the best summer recipes are simple ones (see herehere, or here). Because summer fruits, veggies, and herbs are such powerhouse ingredients, it only takes a little something extra – maybe a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt – to make an insanely delicious dish. Lately, I’ve seen burrata popping up all over restaurant menus in Chicago. Because the creamy cheese is such a simple, rich accent for summer produce, I couldn’t resist making a burrata recipe of my own.

The final result is one of our new favorites around here. It’s sweet, herbaceous, and easy to make, with the perfect balance of fresh and rich components. It’ll be my go-to appetizer for the rest of the summer, and I hope you love it too!

What is burrata?

If you’ve never heard of burrata, you’re in for a treat. It’s a fresh Italian cheese made from cow’s milk. In the store, it looks a lot like fresh mozzarella, because it comes in balls. In fact, each ball is a pouch of fresh mozzarella filled with rich, fresh cream. You can find burrata in speciality cheese shops or most grocery stores with a good cheese section. It pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors, so I made this recipe with a jumble of stone fruit, tomatoes, and fresh herbs.


Burrata salad dressing


Burrata Salad Recipe Ingredients

Instead of whisking together a dressing, I make a simple infused oil for this recipe. It has a light, lemon-thyme flavor that lets the creamy burrata and fresh produce shine. It’s easy to make – just combine 1/2 cup olive oil with a smashed garlic clove, 4 sprigs of thyme, and the rind of 1 lemon, peeled into strips. Warm it over your stove, and then let it steep while you prep the other recipe components. Strain out the thyme, garlic, and lemon before you drizzle it over the salad.

Along with the infused oil, I pair the burrata with a market haul of summer produce. This recipe is all about the fruits & veggies, so use the best ones you can find! Here’s what you need:

  • Burrata, of course! I use one ball, but feel free to scale this recipe up if you’re serving a crowd.
  • Fresh tomatoes – A mix of colors and sizes makes this burrata salad extra fun.
  • Peaches – Look for ripe, yet still firm fruits that will hold their shape when sliced.
  • Cherries and/or currants – These guys aren’t totally necessary, but they’re a pretty, tart contrast to the sweet peaches and tomatoes.
  • Fresh herbs – I garnished mine with basil and thyme, but mint or oregano would be nice additions too.
  • Toasted crushed pistachios – They add a delightful, nutty crunch.
  • Sea salt – Don’t skimp on this! The saltiness will really highlight the herbal, sweet, and savory notes of this dish.

Pile everything onto a platter with the burrata in the center, and drizzle generously with the lemon-thyme oil. Serve with good crusty bread – I like baguette or sourdough. Then, dig in, scooping up a little of the cheese with every bite!

What to Serve with Burrata Salad

This burrata recipe is one of my favorite summer appetizers. Set it out with lots of crostini for guests to pile with cheese and fruit!

It would also be a fantastic addition to a late summer dinner with Italian flavors. Serve it alongside your favorite protein or any of these recipes:

If you love this burrata recipe…

Try my panzanella, Greek salad, watermelon salad, or couscous salad next!

Burrata

Author: Jeanine Donofrio

Recipe type: Appetizer

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • Peel from 1 small lemon
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 4 heirloom tomatoes
  • 1 ripe peach, sliced
  • 1 (8-ounce) ball fresh burrata mozzarella, sliced
  • ½ cup fresh basil and/or mint leaves
  • 1 tablespoon toasted pistachios, chopped
  • Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • A few cherries or fresh currants, optional
  • Toasted bread, for serving
  1. Combine the oil, garlic, lemon peel, and thyme in a small saucepan over low heat. Gently warm the mixture, then turn off the heat. Let steep for 20 minutes, then strain.
  2. Assemble the tomatoes, peach slices, and burrata on a platter. Sprinkle with salt, then drizzle with lemon-thyme oil. Top with the basil and mint and sprinkle with pistachios. Top with cherries and currants, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with toasted bread.

 

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Vegetarian Recipes

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Here’s a quickie recipe for those nights when you just need something fast and delicious. This Lemon Ricotta Pasta is super fast, light, and fresh, which makes it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner during the summer. The bright lemon flavor perfectly compliments the light and creamy ricotta, and the little pops of sweetness from the peas make every bite a little more interesting. Simple, fresh, and easy.

Originally posted 3-4-2011, updated 6-8-2022.

Overhead view of a bowl of lemon ricotta pasta with a fork and lemon wedges.

Do I Have to Use Fresh Lemon?

This is one of those recipes where you really do want to use a fresh lemon instead of bottled juice. The zest from the lemon adds a ton of bright, summery lemon flavor to the pasta without making the sauce too sour. We add just a little of the juice to balance the creaminess of the ricotta, but the zest is where you’re getting all that gorgeous sunny lemon flavor!

Not All Ricotta is Created Equal

I find there is quite a bit of variation in the quality of ricotta from brand to brand. Some are smooth, mild, and sweet like fresh milk, while others are bland and grainy. My preferred brand is Galbani, but they didn’t have any at the store when I went, so I got the generic Kroger brand. It was definitely a bit grainy, but the pasta was still quite delicious despite that!

Also, make sure to get whole milk ricotta. Low-fat ricotta just doesn’t hit the same in this recipe.

What Else Can I Add?

This simple pasta is a great jumping-off point for making a more elaborate pasta, if that’s what you’re in the mood for. Try adding some sliced chicken breast, fresh basil, or fresh spinach. Garlic butter shrimp would also go great with this pasta!

What to Serve with Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This pasta is so light and fresh that I suggest keeping any side dishes really simple, light, and fresh as well. I would go with a super simple side salad, or maybe some roasted asparagus and tomatoes.

Overhead view of lemon ricotta pasta in a skillet.

Overhead view of a bowl of lemon ricotta pasta.

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Lemon Ricotta Pasta is light, fresh, and quick to prepare, making it the perfect pasta for weeknight dinners in the summer.
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost $4.27 recipe / $1.07 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 400kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 1 lemon $0.89
  • 8 oz. pasta* $0.67
  • 1 cup frozen peas $0.50
  • 1 clove garlic, minced $0.08
  • 1 Tbsp butter $0.11
  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta $1.60
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan $0.36
  • 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste) $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (or to taste) $0.02
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper (or to taste) $0.02

Instructions

  • Zest and juice the lemon. You’ll need about ½ tsp zest and 1 Tbsp lemon juice.
  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions (boil for 7-10 minutes, or until tender). Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy water from the pot.
  • Place the frozen peas in the colander before draining the pasta so the pasta will thaw the peas as it drains.
  • Add the butter and minced garlic to a large skillet and sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or just until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Add the drained pasta and peas, and about ½ cup of the starchy pasta cooking water to the skillet with the butter and garlic. Stir to combine, then turn off the heat.
  • Add the ricotta, Parmesan, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon lemon zest to the skillet. Stir until everything is well combined, the residual heat from the skillet and pasta have warmed the ricotta, and the ricotta has formed a creamy sauce. Add more of the warm reserved pasta water if needed.
  • Season the pasta with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Notes

*Use any short shape pasta.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 14g | Sodium: 335mg | Fiber: 4g

close up side view of lemon ricotta pasta in a bowl.

How to Make Lemon Ricotta Pasta – Step By Step Photos

A zested and juiced lemon on a cutting board.

Zest and juice one lemon. You’ll need about ½ tsp of zest and 1 Tbsp juice.

Boiled pasta in a pot, water being scooped out with a measuring cup.

Cook 8oz. pasta according to the package directions (boil for 7-10 minutes, or until tender). Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.

Peas and cooked pasta in a colander.

Add 1 cup of frozen peas to a colander, then pour the boiled pasta over top to thaw the peas as you drain the pasta.

Sautéed garlic in butter in a skillet.

Add 1 Tbsp butter and 1 clove garlic to a large skillet. Sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or just until the garlic becomes very fragrant.

Pasta, peas, and pasta water added to the skillet.

Add the still-hot pasta and peas to the skillet along with about ½ cup of the hot reserved pasta water. Stir to combine, then turn off the heat.

Cheese and lemon added to pasta.

Add 1 cup whole milk ricotta, ¼ cup grated Parmesan, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and ½ tsp lemon zest to the pasta. Stir until the ingredients are combined, the residual heat from the pasta and skillet have warmed the ricotta, and the ricotta has turned into a creamy sauce.

Salt, pepper, and red pepper added to the pasta.

Add more of the reserved pasta water if the mixture is too thick or too dry. Season the pasta with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste.

Finished lemon ricotta pasta in the skillet.

Enjoy the lemon ricotta pasta while still warm!

Overhead view of a bowl of lemon ricotta pasta.

The post Lemon Ricotta Pasta appeared first on Budget Bytes.

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