eat: burrata cheese

The first time I tried burrata cheese was in a delicious Lobster Heirloom Tomato Salad at Bar Crudo in San Francisco four years ago. My mouth waters just thinking about it. Granted, I’ve never met a cheese I didn’t like, but that burrata was on another level of deliciousness. It was truly one of the most amazing taste sensations I've ever encountered.

Sadly, I haven’t had burrata since that memorable time in San Fran… until last week, that is! I was flipping through a Sobeys flyer (a local supermarket) and squealed out loud when I saw they were selling burrata cheese. Off to the market, I went!



For those of you not familiar with burrata (pronounced boo-RAH-ta)  – it’s an ultra-creamy fresh mozzarella that originates from southern Italy. It has a silky texture on the outside and is soft, gooey and delicious on the inside (the center contains mozzarella shreds soaked in cream) - when you cut into the burrata, the cream oozes out irresistibly. Burrata comes from the word “burro” which means butter in Italian, referring to the cheese's buttery taste and texture. It’s available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores, Italian markets, and cheese shops. It’s highly perishable and once cut, it should be eaten immediately (trust me; you won’t have any problems with that task).

Although it has Italian origins, the burrata I purchased came from BelGioioso Cheese in Denmark, Wisconsin and is a serious award winner - placing 2nd in the 2011 World Cheese Awards. Nicely done, Wisconsin!



When it comes to serving burrata, simple is best. Try it at room temperature atop fresh bread (toasted ciabatta is a good choice), sprinkled with kosher salt, freshly cracked pepper and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. For a fancier version, serve the burrata with heirloom tomatoes, prosciutto (preferably San Danielle) and fresh basil.  Mouth watering, yet?

If you're lucky enough to come across burrata, please try it! It’s a tad pricey, but it’s an extravagance worth every penny. This is a food experience you're not likely to ever forget. I’m already planning my next burrata shopping exurcusion to my local Italian Centre Shop to try out their version.

Read more about burrata, here, here and here.

Happy Wednesday, friends! Hope you’re having a fantastic week!

Dajana

Pictures via.