What is Burrata? | Wisconsin Cheese (2024)

What is burrata?

Burrata is a marvelous surprise of a cheese. The outer shell of this small orb of culinary delight is made from fresh mozzarella. But slice into it, and you'll discover its secret – a lush center of soft mozzarella curd and rich cream. Regarded as the Queen of Italian cheese, burrata is a fresh cheese whose glory lasts but a day or two – but, oh, what a beautiful life it leads!

Burrata is a newer cheese, originating in southern Italy in the 20th century. Here in Wisconsin, we don't know how the world lasted so long without the extraordinary taste and texture of burrata cheese. But our cheesemakers work hard every day to make sure there's always a fresh supply for cheese lovers on this side of the pond.

What pairs well with burrata?

What is burrata's pairing profile? Burrata is not a finicky cheese – it gets along with pretty much everybody. Serve it on grilled bread with a little drizzle of olive oil and a little sprinkle of salt. Or pair it with fresh produce – it's especially tasty with ripe peaches or fresh figs on a fruit and cheese board. Slice it up and add it last second to a veggie omelet. Or toss it with heirloom tomatoes and a handful of basil for a caprese salad.

When pairing with beverages, burrata does best with light beers and hard ciders. When drinking wine, try light-bodied Italian reds and zippy whites – a sangiovese, montepulciano, valpolicella, or sauvignon blanc will do nicely, thank you. Burrata also works beautifully for an off-dry riesling pairing or a young chardonnay pairing.

What is burrata cheese?

Burrata is an orb of fresh Italian cheese made with an outer shell of mozzarella and filled with fresh mozzarella curds and rich cream. Burrata loosely translates to "buttery" in Italian, and that perfectly describes the rich taste and texture of this extraordinary cheese.

What is burrata's flavor like?

Burrata has a rich, creamy flavor with a buttery texture.

What is the process for making burrata?

Burrata is made with cow's milk, and animal rennet or microbial rennet is used to curdle the warm milk. The fresh curds are immersed in hot whey or lightly salted water. It's then kneaded and pulled to create the familiar texture of fresh mozzarella. The cheese is formed into a pouch and filled with fresh curds and whole cream to make the rich, creamy center.

What is the right way to store burrata?

Burrata is best when eaten soon after it's made, but you can store it in the refrigerator for up to a day.

What is burrata vs. mozzarella?

Mozzarella is a type of fresh cheese made from cow's milk or buffalo's milk. The curd is kneaded and stretched to form a delicate consistency. The outer shell of burrata is made from mozzarella, but the interior consists of soft, fresh mozzarella curd and fresh cream. The texture of burrata is looser, creamier, and richer than mozzarella. Mozzarella has a denser texture and tangier flavor than burrata.

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Wisconsin burrata? What is up with that?

Burrata originally comes from Italy. We take our hats off to the Italian cheesemakers who first thought to fill a ball of fresh mozzarella with cream and curds. But just because the Italians invented it doesn't mean the rest of the world shouldn't enjoy it, too. As a fresh cheese, burrata can't be shipped from Italy, which is why Wisconsin cheesemakers have taken up the torch to bring you fresh burrata every day.

That's just the way we do cheese in Wisconsin. We've been improving on Old World recipes and inventing new cheeses for more than 180 years, and we've gotten pretty darn good at it. We've got more than 5000 cheese awards on our mantle to prove it – including 1st Place in the world for our burrata. Seriously.

So, next time you want to treat yourself to the taste and texture sensations of a ball of burrata, the cheesemakers of Wisconsin will be happy to oblige.

Craving award-winning aged cheddar, pining for parmesan, or searching for a new cheese to try? The world’s best cheese is just a click away! Explore our directory of Wisconsin cheesemakers and retailers who offer online cheese shopping and get cheese shipped right to your door. What are you waiting for?