Behold Burrata with Minty Pea Pesto

While dining out at Trade on Boston’s Atlantic Wharf, we recently sampled a cool and creamy burrata appetizer and were instantly inspired to feature the delectable cheese. For anyone unfamiliar with burrata, it’s a mild, buffalo milk cheese from Puglia, similar to the ever popular fresh mozzarella but filled with cream. It means "buttered" in Italian which is only appropriate when you cut into the outer shell to reveal a creamy, oozy interior.  At Trade we enjoyed balls of burrata with a chilled pea puree, and opted to merge these ingredients into a burrata, pea and mint pesto bruschetta. The cascading cheese spread atop toasted baguette slices is the perfect alfresco appetizer. The creamy pool swirls with the vibrant green pesto and the pea polka dots just dance off the platter. 

Burrata with Minty Pea Pesto
 

1 baguette cut into ¼-inch slices
EVOO
8 oz. burrata ball
2 c fresh peas, plus an extra ¼ c
1 clove garlic
1/3 c pine nuts
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/3 c Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
2 T chopped fresh mint
1/3 c EVOO
salt and pepper throughout

Preheat oven or grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Brush both sides of the sliced baguette with EVOO and set on top a grill or in an oven until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, submerge the peas in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and let cool. Add the 2 cups of peas, garlic, pine nuts, lemon, Parmigiano Reggiano and mint to a food processor and puree until coarse. Stream in the EVOO until smooth (add more EVOO if not smooth enough). Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon a pool of the pea puree onto a serving place. Top with with the burrata cheese ball. Pour over more pea pesto, a drizzle of EVOO and salt and pepper. Garnish with the 1/4 cup of peas and any flowers you may have in your garden. Serve spread atop the toasted baguette. Serves 6-8.

Once you try this rich and creamy cheese, you’ll be fast to revamp a classic Caprese salad or feature it in any summer dish!