Chef Matt Basile is back at it again, crushing yet another 5 things in a row. This time around he has his sites set on crushing 5 different dishes featuring burrata cheese, all using it in slightly different ways.
Burrata cheese is typically a good sized ball of mozzarella made from the freshest possible cow’s milk. It consists of a firmer outer cheese shell that when sliced open reveals another version of the cheese that is richer and creamier. Matt points out that the dishes he has prepared for this episode are simple and do not contain a lot of ingredients. He says the reason for this is that when you have burrata on the menu it is truly the star of the show.
#5 on the list is a big hit at any gathering and is often a good way to size up a restaurant. The venerable charcuterie board, often packed with decadent meats and cheeses simply would not be complete without burrata. Matt’s favorite thing about having it on the grazing board is that every single bite he takes can be a little different. The flavor combinations are truly unparalleled.
#4 on the list was Matt’s first experience with burrata and is simply called “Tomatoes and Burrata”. It is made up of burrata, blistered tomatoes, a bit of fresh garlic, fresh basil and finally bread. The key to making this dish authentic is the way you blister your tomatoes. Matt reccomends getting your pan nice and hot, adding olive oil, fresh garlic, basil, and only cooking them until you see them start to blister. If you were to cook them down they would not pair nearly as well with the burrata, keep in mind you are not making sauce here. This particular dish is one of those rare perfect combinations of hot and cold.
#3 on the list may raise a few eyebrows due to it’s non-traditional nature but we assure you this one has earned a spot on the list. Burrata fries are the Mercedes of cheese fries, enjoyed by fanciers of fine cheeses and gourmet fries around the globe. Matt likes to spice his up with some fiery red chili paste, taking the heat and flavor levels up a notch. If you haven’t had this delicious drop of decadence do yourself a favor and make it happen.
#2 on Matt’s list is a dish that he first saw while visiting New York City and is certainly one of the smartest uses of burrata he has seen to date. Some would call the Burrata Pizza a cousin to the world famous Margherita Pizza, but Matt claims it is a much better pizza in every way. This pizza was made with nothing but a focaccia crust, marinara, arugala, and burrata. It could be topped with a wide variety of toppings, but be sure to add some olive oil and crushed black pepper.
That brings us to the #1 way Matt loves to crush burrata which is, as you may have guessed, on pasta. As he reveals his top pick he makes it clear that he had a rather difficult time numbering this particular list since every dish on it is amazing. It was a hard choice in the end, but he says it was the right choice and he stands behind it 100%. He combined fettuccine noodles, tomato sauce, and fresh basil. He then topped this with a ball of burrata ripping it open with a pair of forks causing steam to pour out of it.
Truly if ever a cheese deserved a list of the 5 best ways to eat it, it’s burrata. Thank you for watching, take a moment to like and subscribe and come back soon for more new content.