Moonlit Lagoon Salad (Print)

A fresh combination of berries, creamy cheese, and basil with balsamic glaze for a bright and light dish.

# Components:

→ Fruit

01 - 1 cup fresh blueberries
02 - 1 cup seedless purple grapes, halved

→ Cheese

03 - 1 large ball burrata cheese (about 7 oz)

→ Herbs & Greens

04 - 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
05 - 1 cup baby arugula or mixed greens (optional)

→ Dressing

06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
08 - Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish (optional)

09 - Zest of 1 lemon

# Directions:

01 - Arrange the arugula or mixed greens in a wide, shallow serving bowl or platter.
02 - Scatter the blueberries and halved grapes generously around the edge, leaving the center empty.
03 - Position the burrata ball in the center to resemble the moon.
04 - Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil evenly over the fruit and cheese.
05 - Spoon the balsamic glaze in a thin stream over the berries and atop the burrata.
06 - Sprinkle torn basil leaves, lemon zest if using, and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
07 - Serve immediately, optionally accompanied by crusty bread.

# Chef Secrets:

01 -
  • It comes together in 10 minutes, yet looks like you spent all afternoon fussing over it.
  • The creamy burrata melts into the bright berries and basil, creating this beautiful tension between rich and fresh.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost any table.
02 -
  • Buy the burrata as close to serving time as possible; it deteriorates quickly once opened, and warm burrata becomes grainy instead of creamy.
  • If your balsamic is too thin and runny, reduce it in a small saucepan over low heat for a few minutes until it thickens—this makes all the difference in how it clings to the fruit.
03 -
  • Toast a handful of pistachios and scatter them over top for crunch and a subtle earthiness that makes the whole thing more sophisticated.
  • If you can't find burrata, fresh mozzarella works in a pinch, but the salad loses some of its magic—burrata's creamy center is really what makes this dish sing.
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