Everyone’s favorite caprese salad with tomatoes, basil and creamy burrata cheese gets a protein boost thanks to the addition of healthy quinoa.
There are few ingredients that have made as big a splash on the current food trend scene, with as quick of a rise in popularity—and I’m not talking bacon here—than the superfood we call quinoa. It’s pronounced, keen-wa, but I’ve heard tongue-tied foodies say kwiin-wa and even kwin-O-uh.
However it’s name passes your pearly lips, quinoa has definitely made an impression on food bloggers and their recipes. Heck, it’s made an impression on the world, with 2013 being named the “International Year of Quinoa” by The United Nations General Assembly thanks to its potential to assist in eradicating world hunger.
Quinoa is an ancient grain, revered as a staple in the diet of the pre-Columbian Andean and Incan people who harvested it over 7,000 years ago. But until the past few years, quinoa was anything but a favored alternative to potatoes, rice and pasta. It wasn’t the chosen one cuddling up to the grilled chicken on your plate. But I’m here to tell you my theory on what helped change that.
I first became aware of these pearly little nuggets at least 15 years ago when I was the art director of a national health food magazine. We wrote plenty of articles extolling the virtues of this nutrient-dense, gluten-free grain, preaching it’s health benefits as a superfood because it is a complete protein thanks to its nearly perfect ratio of ratio of carbohydrates to proteins to fats. A grain with high protein content. Now we’re talking superfood.
It’s not like I didn’t learn about it’s magic properties, but did I try it? No, I didn’t. Why not? The name simply sounded a little weird, a little too medieval (what IS an ancient grain?) and I was just fine with keeping my evolving culinary horizons within reach of convincing my husband to try brown rice and Mediterranean couscous. Oh yes, I was happening my friends.
So why has quinoa seen such an upsurge in popularity in recent years? Chefs and retailers are always looking for something new to showcase, to develop, to sell so we may be seeing it more, but that doesn’t mean people know what to do with it. I think the secret to quinoa’s success may owe a big thank you to the emerging popularity of food blogs and the authors behind them who make nutritious recipes that are approachable and delivered by a friendly, whole foods face.
Leave a note in the comments section to tell me about it so we can keep our eyes peeled on the trendsetters for the next, great quinoa.
Quinoa and Burrata Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 2 medium tomatoes sliced (I like Campari tomatoes unless I have fresh from my garden)
- 1 packaged ball of Burrata cheese
- 1/2 cup quinoa cooked
- 5-6 basil leaves thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons good and fruity extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Layer tomato slices in a salad bowl or plate. Remove the Burrata cheese from it's package and drain the water. Gently tear the cheese ball in half, reserving one half for another salad or other use (you should use the drained cheese within a day after draining.) Add the quinoa and basil leaves and drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with the kosher salt and freshly ground pepper and serve.
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ashley - baker by nature says
This salad is so stinkin’ beautiful and exactly what my body needs right now. Me likey. A lot.
Kathryn Louise says
your link to 8 favorite food blogs = http://mylifescoop.com/2013/05/16/8-favorite-whole-food-blogs/
gives me a error msg = File Not Found
can you repost them please?
heidi says
Hi! I’m checking on the link on their end, thanks for the heads up!
heidi says
Link is fixed, thanks again!
Kathryn Louise says
Your 8 blog suggestions are good, any vegetarian or vegan blogs is great by me!
Thx!!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Beautiful salad, Heidi! I got an error when I tried to click on your list as well. Looking forward to being able to check these out and make some new additions to my RSS feed! :)
heidi says
Thanks for letting me know, looking into the link now! Sorry for the inconvenience :)
heidi says
The link is working now, thank you for letting me know. Enjoy!
Tieghan says
Such a beautiful salad! Caprese is one of my favorite summer flavors!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This sounds sooooo good!! Love, love, love! And like the other commenters, I can’t get the link either :(
heidi says
Hi Katrina, the link is working and ready for you to check out. THX!
Sophie says
Beautiful salad! I can’t wait to read your top food blogs :) I can’t wait to find some new reads!
Cecile Hamel-Roy says
This looks beautiful – and delicious! I have quinoa in the house and I’m going out to buy the rest of the ingredients. Thanks for another great post! Another one for Pinterest !!
Paula - bell'alimento says
I’m so in love with this!
Erika-Southern Souffle says
This is one seriously beau-ti-ful salad!!!
Rachel Cooks says
I’m completely obsessed with quinoa. Loving this recipe. And your list of blogs is fantastic.
Quinn Cooper says
WOW this looks amazing. I love a caprese burrata salad and I love quinoa, so it’s a pretty perfect combo. A match made in heaven.
Looking forward to making this.
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says
Seeing a lot of burrata recipes popping up! Love it! Salad looks heavenly!
Aimee @ Simple Bites says
Stunning! Did you know we grow quinoa in Canada? Another item to add to the list of eating local. =)
Giulia says
Yayyy!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
Ohhhh Heidi, this looks SO AMAZING. And love all the blogs on the list!
Kevin (Closet Cooking) says
What a perfect summer salad!
Giulia says
Hi Heidi,
In addition to flood bloggers making Quinoa accessible with yummy looking recipes such as the one above, I think there are two more reason for it’s popularity – increased gluten intolerance or people avoiding gluten and the ease of use – compared to other healthy and whole foods you don’t have to soak overnight or prepare it in a complicated fashion – it’s quick, fast and healthy and you can use it savoury or sweet.
Giulia says
please ignore my typo/bad grammar ;)
kelly r says
I like this family whole food blog called http://insockmonkeyslippers.com She gives tips on alternatives for dyes sugars and such and has great recipes that I always use. Btw, agave syrup is not a whole food. It’s boiled down and is exactly like corn syrup. Love your site!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
I still need to try out buratta. These salad looks delicious.
Bev @ Bev Cooks says
Gawgeous salad and a PERFECT list of whole food bloggers!
Kalyn says
Wow, what a salad. I am all over this one.
Cookie and Kate says
I love me some quinoa, but burrata is a new-to-me ingredient that I’ve had fun experimenting with lately (I mean, it’s cheese, so I like it). I have one ball of burrata left and it has this recipe’s name all over it! So excited for juicy red tomatoes to be making an appearance, too. And thank you, Heidi, for including me in your list of whole food blogs along with such great company. Your summary made me smile. xo.
Arthur in the Garden! says
Lovely!
Peter says
Great post and beautiful recipe. One of the very best food blogs is http://www.momskitchenhandbook.com/.
Super practical, great wisdom, yummy recipes and a joy to read :)
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen says
What a pretty and fresh-looking salad! So nice when there’s just a handful of ingredients…
anne carlyle says
minimalist baker is my FAVORITE whole foods blog! I’ve made tons of her recipes and love every single one of them!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Such an awesome grain to work with, and topping it with a squidgy (sp?) dollop of burrata is fantastic!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
This salad looks like heaven, especially when you add creamy buratta!
Rachael (Fuji Mama) says
Such a fantastic list. I love lists like this, as there is always at least one that is new to me! And quinoa? Be still my heart. I’m so glad that it is taking such firm roots here!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Burrata is the best, especially with fresh ripe tomatoes!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Only you could make a quinoa salad this gorgeous!
nessa says
I love quinoa! I will definitely make this!
Jamie @ green beans & grapefruit says
This looks insanely good…again I’m in awe of your photo skills. You picked excellent whole foods blogs too- love each and every one of those.
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
Here you go with that burrata again! This looks fantastic. I fell in love with quinoa a few years ago and have actually replaced it for rice in my house. We now eat it a few times a week. I love the nuttiness it adds to any meal.
Tradesman says
I usually do not leave a response, but after looking at a ton of responses
on Quinoa and Burrata Caprese Salad and 8 Favorite Whole Food
Blogs | foodiecrush. I do have some questions for you if you do not mind.
Is it only me or does it look as if like some of these comments look like they are written by brain dead people?
:-P And, if you are posting at other places,
I would like to follow everything new you have to post.
Would you list of the complete urls of your shared pages
like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
Taylor says
I know this is not timely or anything, as this post is from nearly 2 years ago, but the link for the favorite whole food blogs now goes to a website selling e-cigarettes. Which is essentially the exact opposite. Don’t know how that happened but just wanted to give you a heads up! :)
Greek Street Food Truck Melbourne says
This looks that good, quite a response from long time.
LexMod says
It looks so delicious. I got your recipe and I will try to make this dish. I love it.