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Summer Chopped Salad with Burrata and Dreamy Dill Buttermilk Dressing

Oh my gosh, friends … mid-July is tomorrow. Where is the summer going?? Not helping is the fact that some Canadian weather anomaly will be arriving tomorrow, giving us temps in the low 70’s. In July!

All around, I’m starting to feel autumn panicky about fresh vegetables, like I’m running out of time, when really, things are just getting started.

Like big, savory tomatoes, and fresh, plump corn, and bathtub peaches — peaches so ripe and juicy that it’s just better to set your ole self down in the tub while you munch these babies and get it over with; that’s what we call ’em around here, bathtub peaches — and freshly picked baby kale so tender you don’t have to do a thing to it before heaping it on your plate.

Summer Chopped Salad with Burrata and Dreamy Dill Buttermilk Dressing from SoupAddict.com

That, my friends, is the stuff of summer chopped salads. The best, most flavorful salads you’ll ever eat. And so easy to prepare. It’s called a chopped salad because that’s exactly what you do: no fancy chiffonade or julienne. Just chop.

I marvel at the cleverness of Mother Nature. Have you ever noticed how summer produce — all summer produce — goes so fantastically well together, even though they’re nothing alike in the flavor department? Peaches and tomatoes? Yep! Zucchini and carrots? You bet! Watermelon and jalapeños? Oh, yes!

Pretty much, you can walk out to your vegetable garden, or make a quick pitstop at the farmers’ market, and come away with dinner, no matter what’s there. It will all work.

But I have to admit, tomatoes, corn, and peaches have a particular soft spot in my heart. The combination of sweet and acid and savory is spot on with this trio, and they make the best summer chopped salad ever.

Summer Chopped Salad with Burrata and Dreamy Dill Buttermilk Dressing from SoupAddict.com

Are you guys fans of burrata? It took a while for burrata to expand beyond a few select (and inconveniently located) stores in Cincinnati, but now the grocery just miles from my house carries it, and, oh my.

Burrata is a ball of fresh mozzarella cheese stuffed with a mozzarella cream center. You slice into the ball and the most wonderfully delicate cheesy goodness oozes out. It’s a mess to work with. And it’s absolutely worth it.

If you can find burrata, it will make an amazing topping to this particular summer chopped salad. (If not, just use fresh mozzarella — it’s all good.)

And speaking of toppings, do you see my post yesterday about oven-roasted chickpeas? I actually made the crispy chickpeas for this salad, but they turned out so well that I thought I’d include a post on the technique I used. Check it out if you’re a fan of the savory-snacky crispy chickpea.

Summer Chopped Salad with Burrata and Dreamy Dill Buttermilk Dressing from SoupAddict.com

And then there’s the salad dressing. Making homemade dressing is one of my favorite DIY things in the whole foodie world. So easy and fresh. I made a big batch of dill buttermilk dressing — it’s really a ranch dressing with dill as the star — for this salad and have been dipping into it all week for all sorts of things — with carrot sticks, as a sandwich spread. I topped a burger with it and slapped on a slice of swiss cheese. It’s a dill lover’s ranch dressing for sure, but you can also sub your favorite herbs instead with awesome result.

Oh, and while we’re on the subject, I wanted to share a little dressing-making secret: I rarely use mayo in my dressings. I like mayo as a condiment, but I find it to be too thick and gloppy (and a little cloyingly sweet) in most dressings.

My substitute is super easy: Greek yogurt (usually 2%), honey, and lemon juice or vinegar (amounts vary according to the type of dressing I’m creating). Justified or not, I feel less guilty about using a good dose of this type of creamy dressing on my salads. You’ll find this combo of ingredients in the dressing recipe below.

Karen xo

 

Summer chopped salad from SoupAddict.com
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Summer Chopped Salad with Burrata and Dreamy Dill Buttermilk Dressing

This recipe calls for raw corn cut fresh from the cob. Feel free to use leftover grilled corn (or even thawed from frozen), but raw corn is sweet and crunchy and awesome in a salad.
Prep Time30 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 4 as a side
Author: Karen Gibson

Ingredients

for the dressing

  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 heaping tablespoons minced dill leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic smashed with a little salt (one small clove)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon chopped chives or minced green onions
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 to 1 cup buttermilk I used 3/4 cup

for the salad

  • 4 cups chopped greens such as romaine and baby kale
  • kernels from 1 ear of corn raw
  • 1 peach chopped
  • 6 cherry tomatoes quartered
  • 1 tablespoon small diced red onions
  • 1/2 cup oven-roasted chickpeas*
  • 1 ball of burrata sliced into wedges
  • 1 teaspoon minced dill leaves
  • 1 teaspoon minced cilantro leaves
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

for the dressing

  • Add all ingredients except buttermilk to a medium bowl and whisk until combined. Add 1/2 cup buttermilk and whisk thoroughly. Test the consistency and add more buttermilk until it reaches your preferred pourability. I used 3/4 cup, which makes it pourable but tangy rich. Taste, and add more salt if desired. Let sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. (For best results, taste again after the rest, and add more salt a pinch at a time as needed.)

for the salad

  • Spread the greens on a large platter. Top with the corn, peaches, tomatoes, red onions, and chickpeas. Arrange burrata slices over the salad, and sprinkle with the herbs and a couple of pinches of salt and pepper. Serve the buttermilk dressing on the side.
Nutritional information, if shown, is provided as a courtesy only, and is not to be taken as medical information or advice. The nutritional values of your preparation of this recipe are impacted by several factors, including, but not limited to, the ingredient brands you use, any substitutions or measurement changes you make, and measuring accuracy.
Recipe Rating




Judy

Monday 19th of August 2024

I’m making this for the first time for a group of 8. I assume I just double everything?

Karen - SoupAddict

Tuesday 20th of August 2024

Yes, that's a good plan. There might be ingredients that don't need outright doubling — the burrata, for example — so as you make the salad, just keep an eye on the ingredients to make sure everything is balanced to your liking. Note that the recipe makes about a cup and a half of dressing, which is probably plenty.

Germaine

Monday 20th of June 2022

It’s so nice to have you back in my mail box - I’m also a soup and salad fanatic - I can eat them all year and I generally do. Regarding your chopped Salad - haven’t come across Burrata - can another soft cheese be used.. thanks

SoupAddict

Wednesday 22nd of June 2022

Yes, absolutely! I really love the little fresh mozzarella balls, if you have access to those. Or any fresh mozzarella, really. And thank you for reading my emails and clicking through. I very much appreciate it! :)

SoupAddict

Wednesday 16th of July 2014

I know exactly what you mean - sometimes even standing over the grill (to keep the house cool) is just. too. much. I hope you enjoy the dressing!

Karen

Wednesday 16th of July 2014

I'm pinning this mainly for the dressing but the salad will be made as well! It's just too hot to eat some days. We actually got below 90 today (for a brief period). It was lovely.

dina

Tuesday 15th of July 2014

lovely looking summer salad!

SoupAddict

Wednesday 16th of July 2014

Thanks, Dina! Glad you stopped by!