arugula fennel salad with pickled cherries and burrata

This is a simple, fresh, elegant arugula fennel salad. The creamy burrata, delicate fennel and tart punch of pickled cherries are balanced with the peppery bite of arugula for a refreshing summer meal.

I’ve been toying with the idea of an arugula salad with cherries for a long time now. I love the combination of the two together-- they’re the ultimate taste of summer. I couldn’t put my finger on how I wanted it to go, though, until I made these pickled cherries a few weeks back.

Everything fell into place when I tasted the tart, sweet little gems. I immediately knew fennel, burrata, and slivered almonds were the missing pieces for this elegant summer salad.

I love the contrast of cool, creamy burrata with the peppery bite of arugula. The texture goes perfectly with toasty almonds and the tart, juicy punch of pickled cherries. The sliced fennel adds a wonderful crunch and a delicate anise note to this fresh summer salad.

And don’t worry if you don’t have pickled cherries because this arugula fennel salad is delicious with fresh cherries too. But the extra touch of vinegar is an especially nice balance to the rich burrata and bitter arugula. You won’t regret making a big batch of them!

what goes best with arugula salads?

Arugula is a strongly flavored green, especially if you get older leaves (which is why I’m a huge fan of baby arugula!). The flavor isn’t for everyone. But there are a few tricks to making balanced, delicious salads with arugula that aren’t overwhelmed by its flavor. Here are a few ingredients that go best with arugula:

• Creamy, fresh cheeses like burrata, ricotta, mozzarella, and goat cheese help balance the bite of arugula and tame its peppery flavors. They don’t mask or compete with the flavor of the green, they just mellow it out.
• The same can be said about acidic items, like vinaigrettes, citrus wedges, or in this case, pickled cherries. They cut the herbaceous notes and add a palate cleansing freshness to the salad.
• In addition to including acidic items in the salad, I love to serve a bright and refreshing white wine for the same effect. Sauvignon blanc, Gruner Veltliner, cool climate unoaked Chardonnay, Albariño and Chenin blanc can all bring high acid and fresh flavors to the table.
• Avoid bitter drinks like IPAs, amaro cocktails (I’m looking at you, Campari and soda!) and some Pinot Noirs, which can amplify the bitterness of arugula and make it overwhelming.

what can you use instead of burrata?

• Fresh burrata can sometimes be hard to come by. If you can’t find it at your local grocery stores, you can substitute fresh mozzarella instead. Burrata is simply fresh mozzarella stuffed with cream and small strands of mozzarella. That filling gives it the oozing, incredibly creamy consistency in the center. But the flavor is basically the same as fresh mozzarella, so you’ll only miss out on the dreamy texture.
  • If substituting fresh mozzarella, dice it into cubes rather than tearing it into large pieces for this salad. It’ll be easier to eat!  
• I would adore this salad with a French triple creme cheese as well. They’re incredibly rich and decadent and would be a fantastic foil to the bite of arugula.

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