This Cherry Burrata Salad has simple ingredients with complex flavors that are full of cheerful colors and vibrant essences. The burrata brings a beautiful creaminess to this salad while the cherries provide a sweet and sour component. The fennel and radishes add crunchiness as well as a whole lot of fiber. The spicy maple pecans bring heartiness to the party, while the essence of the basil oil and lemon peel puts this salad over the top.
Four and a half years ago my body changed and I started to gain weight. First, it was a couple of pounds and the next thing I knew, I was 15 pounds overweight. 15 POUNDS! I am talking within a month! I am only 5′ 3 and 3/4, yes I said 3/4 quarters. When you are my height every 1/4 inch counts, haha! I have had to change so many things in my diet and I have had to become very diligent with my exercising. You have to realize, I have never in my whole life had to think about what I was eating. It really has been a blessing, though. I have eaten relatively healthy my whole life, but now I had to cut out sugar, wheat, soy and corn for the most part. I will eat them on occasion.
Lately, I have been eating dishes like this salad as well as kale salads, soups and falafel. My body seems to like this and I have FINALLY achieved my goal weight. It only took 4 and 1/2 years but hey, I’ll take it! Bottom line, there is no such thing as the perfect diet. You really do have to make lifestyle changes. Have you struggled with weight? What’s your story? And what works for you?
This salad pairs really well with a crisp Rose or a Sauvignon Blanc. For a red, a nice Pinot Noir from Oregon is really nice.
Cherry Burrata Salad Recipe:
4 – 6 servings
- 1 Balls Burrata – cut into 4 pieces
- 1/4 Pound Cherries – or to taste – cut in half – pits removed
- 1 Large Fennel Bulb – cut bulb in half – cut out the root then cut the halves in half – thinly sliced
- 1/2 Cup Fennel Stalks – thinly sliced
- 1/2 Cup Radishes – thinly sliced
- 1 Small Yellow Bell Pepper – cut the top and bottom off – thinly sliced into matchsticks
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoons Champagne Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice – fresh squeezed
- 1 Teaspoon Pure Maple Syrup
- 1 Clove Garlic – minced
- 1/4 Cup Basil Oil – recipe below
- Lemon Peel – 1 lemon – microplane
Spicy Maple Pecans
- 2 Cups Raw Pecans
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
Basil Olive Oil
- 1 Cups Basil – packed
- 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Clove Garlic
- Pinch of Sea Salt
Instructions:
Pecans
Add all the ingredients to a cast iron or a saute pan and turn the on stove onto medium heat.
As soon as it starts to bubble or get hot, stir continuously, they will start to get really sticky.
Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Separate them a bit. Let cool.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place the pecans in the oven on the middle rack for 8 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
Basil Olive Oil
In a food processor or blender, puree the basil, garlic, oil and salt really well. Strain thru a fine-mesh strainer into a jar. Set aside
Lemon Peel
Zest the lemon peel and let it sit out to dry.
Salad
Add the veggies and mix into the dressing. Arrange the veggies on a large plate or bowl and top with the burrata. Top with cherries. Sprinkle with the lemon peel.
Serve the pecans on the side so that they will stay crunchy. Serve the basil oil on the side.
Cherries are extremely high in antioxidants that help to slow down the aging process. If fact, they have the highest amount of antioxidants of any fruit. They help balance your body’s pH and are wonderful for decreasing inflammation that helps alleviate joint pain. Their high melatonin content is helpful with insomnia. They have compounds that help you reduce body fat as well as reducing triglycerides that are great for heart health.
Fennel has a very good source of fiber that helps limit cholesterol build-up and helps to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood. The fiber also helps remove carcinogens from the colon and it can eliminate constipation. It contains the phytonutrient anethole, the main part of its volatile oil that has been shown to reduce inflammation and also helping to prevent the occurrence of cancer. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is helpful for eye inflammation, and reduces premature aging and macular degeneration. There are high levels of potassium in the fennel bulbs and seeds and can help increase brain function and cognitive abilities. It also increases the reach of oxygen to the brain. The fronds above the fennel bulbs contain important vitamins, like pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin.
