Grilled Peach & Burrata Salad


This is a salad that just epitomizes summer to me and shows that by choosing just a few fresh, seasonal ingredients perfectly paired, can create a memorable dish. Although the combination of ripe tomatoes, mozzarella and basil is much more famous, pairing seasonal ripe peaches lightly grilled with creamy burrata is a truly amazing.

I love to prepare a salad such as this one for a lazy summer lunch on the patio, although it also could be served as first course for dinner on those very hot summer days when all you want to do is get out of the kitchen and instead fire up the grill. All you need to create this salad are perfectly ripe peaches, creamy burrata or fresh mozzarella (buffalo mozzarella preferred), and some peppery arugula salad.

To dress this salad I use a drizzle of our own extra virgin olive oil, and a splash of aged, thick, sweet balsamic vinegar. If you prefer, you could also add salty slices of prosciutto to the salad.

Burrata is a fresh Italian cow milk cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell of the cheese is solid mozzarella, while the inside contains stracciatella and cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. These days, burrata and buffalo mozzrella is also produced across Italy and elsewhere.

If you cannot find burrata or buffalo mozzarella, use a good quality fresh mozzarella, preferable handmade. A perfectly ripe peach should be fairly firm, not soft, and be completely free of bruises and blemishes.

A good peach should smell sweetly fragrant, and it is important to remember that peaches will only soften when left sitting at room temperature and will not ripen any more after they have been picked. When using peaches for grilling, freestone peaches are best, and pick ripe but slightly firm peaches.

When buying balsamic vinegar, look for Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena or Reggio. This would be the true artisan-style vinegar, the best you can buy. The other type, Aceto Balsamico di Modena is generally an industrially made product, and its quality may vary.

If the label states it was indeed made in Modena however, it may be worth trying. In the States, the best source for artisan-style balsalmico would be a good Italian specialty store. This delicious imported Italian condiment can be found these days in almost any quality grocery store.

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 

Grilled Peach & Burrata Salad

Grilled Peach & Burrata Salad

Yield: Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes

A unique combination of flavors.

Ingredients

  • 4 Ripe Peaches
  • 8 Cups Fresh Arugula, Washed & Dried
  • 4 Medium Sized Balls of Burrata or Fresh Mozzarella
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Aged Balsamic Vinegar
  • Sea Salt
  • Cracked Black Pepper

Instructions

  1. Cut the peaches into wedges and lightly brush with olive oil.
  2. Grill the peaches on a hot grill until browned.
  3. Arrange the arugula onto four plates, then arrange the peach slices around the plate.
  4. Arrange the cheese around the peaches.
  5. Just before serving, drizzle some extra virgin olive oil over the plate, followed by a teaspoon or so of the aged balsamic.
  6. Season each plate with the sea salt and cracked pepper, then serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 338Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 1277mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 3gSugar: 17gProtein: 23g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

2 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.