Fresh mozzarella is like the vanilla of the cheese world, and by no stretch (pun intended!) are we slinging that as an insult. Rather, both have creamy, clean, beautifully nuanced flavors that have escalated them to the top: Mozzarella is one of the most popular cheeses, and like vanilla, it's versatile enough to complement a host of other flavors as much as it can be enjoyed unadorned. This collection is dedicated to all things mozzarella and its creamier cousin, burrata. From salads and sandwiches to pasta and pizza, these recipes celebrate the simple, sophisticated cheeses in all their luscious glory.
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Charred Eggplant with Burrata and Pomegranate-Walnut Relish
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Velvety eggplant is paired with a tart yet earthy relish of walnuts, cilantro, and pomegranate seeds. Toasting the walnuts enhances their full nutty, slightly bitter character and plays well against the bright pomegranate arils, which provide fresh bursts of juicy sweetness."The burrata brings unbridled decadence to this dish, providing an oozy, creamy backdrop for the eggplant and relish," cookbook author Hetty McKinnon writes.
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Persimmon and Burrata Salad with Sesame Candy
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The Fuyu persimmon that chef Helene Henderson uses in this beautiful salad is light orange and shaped like a tomato. Don’t confuse it with the Hachiya variety, which is a deeper orange, heart-shaped, and only edible when very soft to the touch. When she can’t find good persimmons, Henderson makes the salad with other seasonal fruit, like nectarines.
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Herbed Fazzoletti with Asparagus and Burrata
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Parsley, chives, tarragon, and chervil are pureed and tossed with pasta, asparagus, cheese, and pine nuts for this elegant dish. It pairs wonderfully with a cold glass of white wine, such as steely Italian Pinot Grigio.
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Orecchiette with Greens, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas
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For this fragrant recipe, the chickpeas are fried and spiced, then get strewn across the medley of tender pasta, garlicky veggies, and fresh mozzarella and basil. Try the dish with a fruit-forward Pinot Gris.
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Prosciutto-Mozzarella Piadine
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This Italian flatbread sandwich is stuffed with warm mozzarella cheese, arugula, and thinly sliced prosciutto.
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Melon and Peach Salad with Prosciutto and Mozzarella
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Chef Andy Glover uses smoked pork in this dish, but prosciutto is also tasty. Simply toss everything together and serve.
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Margherita Tortilla Pizzas
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Chef Jacques Pépin makes quick pizzas with pita bread, lavash, or flour tortillas, like this simple mozzarella and tomato pie.
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Sheet Pan Eggplant Parmesan
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A quick broil followed by a longer bake makes this no-fry recipe hands-off enough to put together on a Tuesday, with results delicious enough for a weekend dinner party. Be sure to let the eggplant drain to achieve the best charred eggplant texture.
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Smoked Mozzarella Mezzelune with Braised Onion Sauce
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Mezzelune (which means "half moons" in Italian) is a crescent-shaped stuffed pasta similar to ravioli. It's relatively simple to shape and requires little equipment to make at home. The accompanying thick, rich, slow-cooked tomato and onion sauce is loosely inspired by a Bolognese classic called il friggione.
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Sweet Potato, Balsamic Onion, and Soppressata Pizza
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Soppressata tops this clever prebaked-crust pizza, along with mashed sweet potatoes, caramelized onion, and mozzarella cheese. Enjoy it with a juicy, medium-bodied Pinot Noir.
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Risotto Nero with Squash and Burrata
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Chef Nancy Oakes makes this gorgeous risotto with Venere black rice, a naturally black short-grain variety. The glossy grains are especially striking served with the golden butternut squash puree and creamy white burrata.
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Fried Zucchini Blossoms with Prosciutto and Mozzarella
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In this recipe, delicate zucchini blossoms are stuffed with melty mozzarella and salty prosciutto before being lightly battered and fried into a crispy melt-in-your-mouth treat.
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Potato and Mozzerella Croquettes
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These light and cheesy fried potato croquettes are breaded twice: They’re dredged in breadcrumbs, dipped in beaten eggs seasoned with mustard and garlic, then dredged in breadcrumbs once more. The payoff is a super-crisp, flavorful crust for the filling of soft mashed potato and melted cheese.
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Caprese Burgers
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In this play on the classic Italian salad, basil pesto is kneaded into ground beef before grilling, The cooked burgers are then topped with mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and even more pesto.
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Baked Shells with Pesto, Mozzarella, and Meat Sauce
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Here’s a true crowd-pleaser: pasta shells in a simple sauce of ground beef, tomatoes, and pesto, layered with mozzarella and Parmesan and baked until bubbly. Fusilli or orecchiette would work well here, too.
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Grilled Cheese with Spinach and Tomato Sauce
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Call it an adult version of the grilled cheese sandwich: Slices of country bread are layered with mozzarella, goat cheese, and tomato-sauced spinach, then toasted to a golden brown.
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Chicken Caprese Salad
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Bocconcini (mini mozzarella balls) are often sold floating in herbed olive oil. That tasty oil is essential to this three-ingredient recipe because it adds so much flavor to both the chicken marinade and the dressing.
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Pizza Vesuvio with the Works
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This half-pizza, half-calzone is named for Italy’s Mount Vesuvius. It's topped with everything delicious: artichokes, mozzarella, ricotta, ham, salami, mushrooms, olives, and of course, marinara.
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Arancini with Peas and Mozzarella
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“My Calabrian grandmother always used plain white rice to make her incredible arancini (rice balls),” says former F&W editor Grace Parisi, “but I prefer to cook with plump arborio because I think it makes the insides creamier.”
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Antipasto Salad with Bocconcini and Green-Olive Tapenade
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Chef Nancy Silverton is an Italian cooking expert, getting the biggest flavor from the simplest ingredients. She does just that with this hearty salad, which combines crisp iceberg lettuce, milky mozzarella, spicy-tangy peperoncini, and salty olives and salami.
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Celery Root and Mushroom Lasagna
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For this streamlined version of chef Fabio Trabocchi’s luxe lasagna in bianco (white lasagna), he layers flat noodles with a supremely rich sauce, along with a root vegetable ragù, fresh mozzarella, and whole basil leaves.
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Crispy Arepitas with Mozzarella and Chorizo
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Chef Michelle Berstein makes mini arepas, or arepitas, to serve as canapés, adding cheese and chorizo to the dough. They're her answer to the corn dog.
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Grilled Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Unagi Sauce
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Chicago chef Stephanie Izard makes the ultimate summer salad with a creamy version of sweet-salty Japanese unagi sauce, which is typically brushed over eel.
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Chicken Parmesan with Pepperoni
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Chef Bryan Vietmeier merges two Italian-American favorites here: chicken parm and pepperoni.
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Portobello Mushroom and Red Pepper Pizza
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This delicious homemade pizza is topped with meaty portobello mushrooms, creamy mozzarella cheese, sweet red peppers, and fresh basil. It serves two to four people.
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Cucumber and Radish Salad with Burrata
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The tasty dressing for this salad comes from the juices that form while the cucumber macerates with the other ingredients.
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Pasta with Marinated Grilled Eggplant, Burrata, and Chiles
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Torn pieces of burrata are tossed into the orecchiette just after it’s cooked so the cheese melts ever so slightly into the pasta, which is laced with chunks of tender, smoky eggplant.
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Grilled Apricots with Burrata, Country Ham, and Arugula
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Depending on the season, chef Travis Lett also makes this salad with plums, peaches, or pears.
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Buffalo Mozzarella with Neat and Messy Roasted Tomatoes
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Cookbook author Rachel Roddy serves tomatoes roasted two ways for a range of delicious tomato flavor as well as a beautiful presentation.
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Zucchini with Niçoise Olives and Burrata
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Star chef and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio captures the essence of zucchini by braising it quickly and then tossing it with briny olives.
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Grilled Zucchini with Fresh Mozzarella
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The delicate taste of fresh mozzarella offers a delicious counterpoint to the garlic and vinegar-macerated zucchini.
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Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil
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These warm sandwiches are best made with thin ciabatta, so you can get your mouth around them. Feel free to add pesto, tapenade, or a garlicky aïoli to make them even more delicious.
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