Asparagus Tomato Salad with Burrata Cheese

This simple Asparagus Tomato Salad with Burrata Cheese and Pine Nuts is a refreshing summer recipe that looks beautiful on a plate and is bursting with flavor!  Finished with a homemade dressing made with Balsamic vinegar and olive oil, this salad takes only 30 minutes to make!

Simple yet sophisticated salad

This delicious tomato asparagus salad is super easy to make and takes only 30 minutes.   Yet, it is one of those salads that makes a beautiful presentation despite its simplicity.  It looks sophisticated on a plate - and this gorgeous presentation just naturally falls into place because of the colorful ingredients (green asparagus and red cherry tomatoes), Burrata cheese, toasted pine nuts, and chopped fresh basil leaves.

• The asparagus is quickly roasted in the oven for only 10 minutes just until tender and to achieve a slightly crispy texture.
• Then, the roasted asparagus is tossed with halved cherry tomatoes.  Of course, you can use grape tomatoes, too.
• Finally, the salad is drizzled with a simple balsamic vinaigrette, and perfectly toasted pine nuts are sprinkled on top.

I hope this healthy salad will become a welcome addition to your salad recipes.  If you like asparagus, you might also enjoy these dishes: roasted asparagus with Gruyere cheese and bacon and one-pan pesto chicken with asparagus and tomatoes.

Salad dressing

This asparagus tomato salad is drizzled with a very simple homemade vinaigrette that includes only 2 ingredients: olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Because it is only 2 ingredients, it's best to use high-quality olive oil, such as extra virgin olive oil, labeled as first cold-pressed.  I also prefer to use high-quality balsamic vinegar (made in Italy) labeled as Aceto Balsamico I.G.P.  This type of balsamic vinegar has a thick texture which is perfect for a salad.

Important tips

• How to prep the asparagus.  First, trim off the rough ends.  Then, dice the asparagus into 1.5-inch pieces before roasting.
• Do not overcrowd the asparagus when roasting.   Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, add diced asparagus making sure the asparagus is not crowded.  This ensures that it roasts and acquires a crispy texture instead of steaming.  Make sure the oven is preheated to 400 F .   Roast for 10 minutes, not longer.   It's especially true if you use thin asparagus.  Thicker asparagus might take a couple of minutes longer to roast.
• Bring Burrata cheese to room temperature and add it right before serving the salad.
• Toast the pine nuts in the preheated oven at 350 F for only 5 minutes.  Watch the oven carefully - the nuts can burn quickly.  Toasted pine nuts acquire a beautiful color and crunch.
• Use high-quality olive oil.  I prefer to use extra virgin olive oil, labeled as first cold-pressed,  packaged in a dark bottle.  Such olive oil usually has a distinctive peppery or fruity taste.
• Use high-quality balsamic vinegar.  I use the balsamic vinegar labeled as Aceto Balsamico I.G.P.  High-quality balsamic vinegar is not as acidic as a regular one and has a thicker texture. Balsamic vinegar  labeled as Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale D.O.P. is also a great choice.

How to store the salad

Refrigerate the salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days.  For best results, add balsamic vinaigrette, burrata cheese, and pine nuts right before serving to preserve the freshness of the cheese and the crunchiness of the nuts.

Can you make it in advance?

This salad is so easy to make there is really no need to make it in advance.  If you do want to make it ahead, you can make these steps ahead:

• Prepare the asparagus by roasting it in the oven.  Then, toss together with sliced cherry (or grape) tomatoes.
• Toast the pine nuts in the oven but do not add them right away.

Add the burrata cheese only when ready to serve.  Burrata cheese tastes best when it's at the freshest, so I would recommend adding it only when you're ready to serve the salad.  Also, drizzle with the balsamic vinaigrette and add toasted pine nuts only right before serving.

What main courses go well with this salad?

This asparagus tomato salad pairs beautifully with all types of grilled meats, such as chicken, steak, and pork.  If you're looking for main course recipes that are as refreshing as this salad, try these:

• Pesto Chicken with Tortellini, Asparagus, and Tomatoes
• Chicken Margherita Skillet with Basil Pesto, Cherry Tomatoes, and Mozzarella
• Basil Pesto Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Bake

Other delicious salads

• Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Basil Pesto
• Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese
• Beet Salad with Spinach, Cashews and Dried Cranberries

4.66 from 113 votes

Asparagus Tomato Salad with Burrata Cheese

This simple Asparagus Tomato Salad with Burrata Cheese and Pine Nuts is a refreshing summer recipe that looks beautiful on a plate and is bursting with flavor!  Finished with a homemade dressing made with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, this salad takes only 30 minutes to make!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Calories per serving 467 kcal

Author: Julia

Ingredients

Salad

• 1.5 lb asparagus
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 10 oz grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
• 8 oz Burrata cheese
• ½ cup pine nuts toasted
• salt and pepper

Salad dressing

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil

Garnish

• 10 leaves fresh basil chopped
• cracked black pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• Trim asparagus ends. Dice the asparagus into 1-5 inch pieces. Toss diced asparagus with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place asparagus in a parchment paper-lined baking sheet without overcrowding.
• Roast in the preheated oven at 400 F for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven.
• Reduce oven to 350 F. On a separate baking sheet, add pine nuts and roast in the oven at 350 F for 5 minutes. Watch the oven carefully - the nuts can burn quickly.
• In a medium bowl, make a salad dressing by combining balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Whisk to emulsify.
• In a large bowl, combine roasted asparagus, halved grape (or cherry) tomatoes. Drizzle with the salad dressing (you don't need to use all of it) and toss everything together.
• Distribute the salad among the salad bowls. Top with Burrata cheese and toasted pine nuts. Top the salad (and the Burrata cheese) with chopped fresh basil leaves and a small amount of cracked black pepper

Notes

• Bring Burrata cheese to room temperature before adding to the salad.
• Toast the pine nuts in the preheated oven at 350 F for only 5 minutes.  Watch the oven carefully - the nuts can burn quickly.  Toasted pine nuts acquire a beautiful color and crunch.
• Use high-quality olive oil.  I prefer to use extra virgin olive oil, labeled as first cold-pressed.  To me, high-quality olive oil always has a distinctive flavor, such as peppery or fruity, with a touch of bitterness.  This type of olive oil is usually packaged in a dark bottle to avoid exposure to daylight (sunlight) which causes olive oil to degrade.
• Use high-quality balsamic vinegar.  I use the balsamic vinegar labeled as Aceto Balsamico I.G.P.  It is not as acidic as a regular balsamic vinegar and has a beautiful thick texture. Balsamic vinegar  labeled as Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale D.O.P. is also a great choice.

Nutrition

Nutrition Information

Asparagus Tomato Salad with Burrata Cheese

Amount per Serving

Calories

467

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

43

g

66

%

Saturated Fat

 

11

g

69

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

8

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

16

g

Cholesterol

 

40

mg

13

%

Sodium

 

11

mg

0

%

Potassium

 

634

mg

18

%

Carbohydrates

 

14

g

5

%

Fiber

 

5

g

21

%

Sugar

 

8

g

9

%

Protein

 

16

g

32

%

Vitamin A

 

2344

IU

47

%

Vitamin C

 

20

mg

24

%

Calcium

 

358

mg

36

%

Iron

 

5

mg

28

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclaimer:

The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Keyword asparagus tomato salad

Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!