Strawberry Burrata Salad with Mint Pesto

This simple strawberry burrata salad with a mint pesto is full of summer goodness. It is loaded with refreshing flavors with juicy, creamy and crunchy textures. The salad is also naturally gluten-free and ready in no time!

With another record-breaking heat wave in Europe and hot summer days in the US too, I figured you’d like a simple healthy plant-based recipe that does not require to turn the heat on. It’s the perfect time to go back to basics and enjoy the best that summer has to offer: fresh, seasonal produce.

Strawberries are the star ingredient in this salad, obviously (I looooove to add berries to my salads!). Then, to make it extra special, I played with both flavors and textures. I added a soft and creamy touch, a hint of crunchy, and a subtle little twist to the dressing. Because we all love great food, no matter what!

4 simple ingredients in this salad:

• Strawberries – They are sweet, fruity, loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants.
• Burrata cheese – My summer favorite. It’s such a soft, creamy cheese… If you can’t find any, you can replace it with mozzarella. The cheese is here a great source of calcium and protein.
• Pine nuts – They add a little crunchy texture to the whole dish.
• Mint (actually mint pesto) – Mint pesto brings a subtle and refreshing flavor to the fruit salad.

So far, it’s pretty easy, right? Yet, we don’t often think of pairing these flavors together in a salad. Also, at this point, you might wonder if the salad is more an appetizer, a main dish or even a dessert? I let you decide what you think is best. however, if you ask me, I would put in the appetizer or main dish category rather than a dessert. And I will tell you why: this is a matter of seasoning!

How to prepare a mint pesto?

You most possibly won’t find ready-to-use mint pesto in store. It means that you will need to prepare your own one. Good news: it’s actually super simple, and so is pesto in general by the way! Believe me, it is worth the (almost no) effort, and you will be proud of you when you’ll see the result.

Making mint pesto is pretty simple: it is based on the same principles than a classic herb pesto. Just mix together fresh mint leaves, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil in a food processor or with a mortar. You want to keep some texture in it, but you might need to adjust the quantity of olive oil.

Now, what if you use basil pesto instead? You could and you can! Basil and strawberries pair very well too, so if you are not too kind of fresh mint, know that this can be a great alternative. You can also try my Almond Basil Pesto, which is a regular pesto in which pine nuts are simply replaced by almonds. So crunchy!

Adds-ons and a key seasoning

When it comes to a salad, seasoning is key and can really level up a simple dish to a much more sophisticated one, bursting with subtle flavors. I originally developed this recipe for Peugeot Saveurs and had so much time playing with the seasoning. This comes in the mint pesto of course, but I also like to sprinkle some freshly ground black pepper, sea salt, and even a touch of pili pili sometimes. I also like to add a final drizzle of olive oil – for this and in case you’re interested, I’m using the Peugeot balsam duo that enables me to have full control over the drizzle.

A few adds-ons can also level up your salad and make a more wholesome, fulfilling and nourishing meal, yet equally delicious. Here are a few ideas:

• Sprinkle some bread croutons
• Add a handful of pasta (penne or farfalle) or quinoa
• Add sliced or diced avocado and/or a handful of baby spinach.

Other refreshing salad recipes you will love:

• Nutty Mango Burrata Salad with Mint Pesto
• Avocado Raspberry Quinoa Salad
• Fig Salad with Vanilla and Black Pepper Syrup
• Salmon & Avocado Quinoa Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette
• Healthy Protein-Packed Greek Salad with Zucchini, Chicken and Feta
• Avocado Soft Boiled Eggs with a Raspberry Vinaigrette

As for now, I leave you with this fantastic strawberry salad that will soon become a favorite in your house too!

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This recipe is created in partnership with Peugeot Saveurs SNC.