Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Burrata: The 5-Ingredient Summer Appetizer That Stops Traffic
A stunning Italian-inspired appetizer featuring sweet cherry tomatoes marinated in garlic, fresh basil, and quality olive oil, served with creamy burrata cheese. This no-cook dish comes together in just 15 minutes but tastes like you’ve been cooking for hours. Perfect for summer entertaining, dinner parties, or anytime you want to impress with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (no cooking required)
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings as appetizer, 4 as light lunch
- Category: Appetizer, Side Dish, Light Lunch
- Method: No-Cook, Marinating
- Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Marinated Tomatoes:
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes (4 cups), halved
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
- ¾ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For Serving:
- 8 oz burrata cheese (1-2 balls)
- Flaky sea salt
- Fresh basil for garnish
- Crusty bread, toasted
Instructions
- Prep tomatoes: Wash, dry thoroughly, and halve all cherry tomatoes. Place in a medium bowl.
- Make marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey until combined. Add sliced garlic, torn basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Marinate: Pour marinade over tomatoes and toss gently to coat. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. (Can refrigerate up to 24 hours; bring to room temp before serving.)
- Prep burrata: Remove burrata from refrigerator 10 minutes before serving. Drain and pat dry gently.
- Assemble: Place burrata in center of a shallow serving dish. Using a slotted spoon, arrange marinated tomatoes around burrata. Pour all the marinade (with garlic and basil) over everything.
- Finish and serve: Garnish with fresh basil leaves and sprinkle flaky sea salt over burrata. Serve immediately with toasted crusty bread. Guests tear into the burrata so the creamy center mingles with tomato juices.
Notes
- Use the ripest, sweetest tomatoes you can find—in-season is crucial
- Don’t skip bringing everything to room temperature before serving
- The marinade is the sauce—make sure it all gets poured over the dish
- Fresh burrata from the cheese counter is superior to pre-packaged
- Can marinate tomatoes up to 4 hours at room temp or 24 hours refrigerated
- Leftovers: marinated tomatoes keep 2 days, but use burrata immediately once opened