Prosciutto and Burrata Arugula Salad
This simple Arugula Salad with Prosciutto and Burrata has the perfect blend of ingredients–peppery arugula, salty prosciutto, creamy burrata, juicy tomatoes, and crunch pistachios. It is great as a light lunch on its own, or as part of a complete Italian meal with some homemade ravioli and your favorite protein.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links – at no cost to you! I appreciate your support that helps me run my blog.
This Prosciutto and Burrata Arugula Salad is my girlfriend’s Roman Empire, because after she had it for the first time, she couldn’t stop thinking about it every day (and neither could I!). We went to Costco and bought a ton of burrata and prosciutto. I originally had plans to make some homemade focaccia and make a sandwich with these ingredients, but after our first time at Costco, we bought a few too many indulgent treats (like their giant gooey cinnamon roll) so I decided maybe it was best to have a salad instead! Things really got out of hand on that Costco trip, but the good thing is, we got to have this salad for literally 5 nights in a single week because it is SO GOOD!
Simple Arugula Salad with Prosciutto and Burrata
One time, I went on a date with a guy when I was in my 20s (you know, before I realized I didn’t even like men). Our first date was fun, but he was so so slow at responding to text messages and making plans. I still tried to communicate and we ended up going on a second date, but it was OVER after that date. Why? Because we were at a nice Italian restaurant and I ordered a pizza with burrata on it, and when he took his first bite of the burrata, he asked if it was ice cream. ICE CREAM ON PIZZA?!?!? Okay, maybe that’s a stoner’s dream come true, but as an Italian, I couldn’t handle that reaction. There was no third date.
Okay, so there wasn’t a third date for many other reasons (including the 16 hours it would take for him to respond to one text message, and mostly my closeted homosexuality), but I remember getting the “ick” when he thought burrata was ice cream. Burrata is one of my favorite cheeses and I will order it any time I see it on a menu, whether it’s an appetizer, the star of a salad, stuffed into ravioli, or used as a pizza topping.
What is Burrata?
What is burrata? It’s the cheese of the Gods. It’s the best thing you’ll ever put into your mouth. You’ll wonder why you’ve gone your whole life without it. You’ll remember the day you discovered it. It’s that good.
The word “Burrata” in Italian literally translates to “buttery,” which is the perfect description of this cheese. Burrata is a soft Italian cheese from the Puglia region of Italy made by forming fresh mozzarella into a pouch and filling it with stracciatella, which is a mix of soft curd and cream. A ball of burrata is delicate and soft, and as you slice or rip it open, the creamy curds slowly seep out. It’s rich and milky, and subtly sweet so it pairs really well with salty ingredients.
Burrata is best eaten cold or at room temperature, though I have also added it to a sheet pan of baked gnocchi with tomatoes and sausage where it melts into a sauce. You can add burrata to pizza, pasta, or a caprese salad. Serve it with salty Italian meats and some crusty bread.
Why you’ll love this Prosciutto and Burrata Salad recipe
- It has the perfect mix of tastes and textures. Creamy burrata, salty prosciutto, juicy tomatoes, peppery arugula, and crunchy pistachios combine to make a delicious experience in your mouth. The lemon juice adds brightness and the balsamic glaze adds some sweetness to the salad to bring it all together.
- It has burrata. If you’re anything like me and you freak out over the mention of burrata in anything, then you will be just as obsessed with this salad as I am.
- My girlfriend said so. She thinks about this salad every day, so… that’s why you’ll love it.
Ingredients
How to Make This Prosciutto and Burrata Salad
This is probably the easiest recipe I have on my blog because it doesn’t involve cooking AT ALL. The only cutting you need to do is slicing the tomatoes in half and roughly chopping the pistachios (which, technically you don’t even need to do either of those things if you’re lazy). Keep on scrolling for the recipe card anyway and leave a review!
FAQs
Can you make this salad ahead of time?
The salad can be made a few hours ahead of time, just skip the lemon juice and balsamic glaze until you’re ready to serve, and wrap the salad bowl tightly with plastic wrap. However, I do not recommend making this much further than a few hours ahead of serving, because pistachios can get a bit soft in the refrigerator after a long period of time.
What kind of cheese can I use in place of burrata?
Burrata can sometimes be hard to find (I always get a little disappointed when my local grocery store doesn’t have any left in stock). If you can’t find it, fresh mozzarella (not the low-moisture bricks of mozzarella) is your best substitute, especially mozzarella pearls! Burrata is made from mozzarella and cream, so fresh mozzarella has a similar taste and texture to the outside of a ball of burrata.
Can I use a different salad base instead of arugula?
I’d recommend some leafy mixed greens if you’re not a fan of a peppery arugula! Shaved Brussels sprouts would also make a deliciously unique base.
Equipment
Print
Prosciutto and Burrata Arugula Salad
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This salad is my Roman Empire, because I can’t stop thinking about it and I want to eat it every day. It’s so easy to make (there’s literally NO COOKING involved), and it’s the perfect blend of flavors and textures: salty prosciutto, creamy burrata, juicy tomatoes, crunchy pistachios, tart lemon, and sweet balsamic glaze. Make it as a side dish for two or as a light lunch for you!
Ingredients
- 2 oz baby arugula
- 1/4 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- 3 slices prosciutto
- 1 ball burrata
- 5–7 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 tbsp pistachios, roughly chopped
- Balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Add arugula to a bowl. Squeeze lemon juice on top with (optional) olive oil and season with a pinch of salt. Toss the arugula.
- Rip up the pieces of prosciutto and place them throughout the salad. Rip the burrata into pieces and add on top. Top with cherry tomatoes and crushed pistachios.
- Finish with a generous drizzle of balsamic glaze. Eat on its own for a light lunch or pair it with some homemade ravioli or pasta as a side for dinner!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 1820.8 mg
- Fat: 21.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 21.3 g
- Protein: 21.8 g
- Cholesterol: 54.4 mg
yes, this is the absolute best salad ever. i love the combo of textures and flavors.