Often, the best dishes are the simplest. A common feeling among chefs is that if you use the best-quality ingredients and treat them lightly, you will be rewarded. I couldn’t agree more.
This is illustrated perfectly by this recipe for grilled tomatoes on the vine with burrata. Tomatoes with mozzarella is one of my favorite combinations, and I love it even when the tomatoes are less than perfect and the mozzarella is a little bland. But take a bunch of cherry tomatoes on the vine, grill them and serve them with burrata and some grilled bread and you’ve got an amazing dish!
The hardest part of this recipe is treating the fragile tomatoes carefully so that they don’t fall off the vine. You want to brush or rub them with a little olive oil to protect them, then season them lightly with kosher salt. Place the tomatoes vine side up on the cooking grate and do not turn them.
The heat of the grill will intensify the natural juices and sugars, making the sweet tomatoes even more flavorful. The warm tomatoes can be served immediately with the burrata, a touch of extra-virgin olive oil, and a bit of salt and pepper. I like to serve this as a shared plate with grilled ciabatta bread.