Dinner plans were underway and wouldn’t you know there were a couple of ripe peaches and tomatoes sitting on the kitchen counter making me feel guilty. We’ve all been there. The summer farmer’s markets are so tempting and somehow its easy to buy too much when you’re standing in the middle of stands full of gorgeous produce.
There was no specific menu but there was a lovely flank steak marinating in the fridge and I couldn’t think of any good reason not to try a Peach, Tomato, and Basil Salad. The peaches and tomatoes would soon be over-ripe and the garden was full of basil. It seemed like an unusual combination but what the heck, Tomato and Peach Salad with Basil could be the best salad ever. A quick scavenger hunt in the refrigerator revealed a container of burrata cheese purchased with an intent long forgotten. Honey in dressing is practically a rule in our house so a perfect menu was starting to add up. And there were Litton Cookies for dessert.
I got to make the cookies on Channel 5’s Talk of the Town yesterday (CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW). I had a feeling Meryll would want to know about that recipe. She was a band girl herself, not at Litton but at Hillsboro HS, also my Alma Mater. Sadly, we don’t have a special Hillsboro Cookie but we think we might invent one.
Being at Channel 5 is always a blast so any excuse to come back is fine with me. Lelan and I were the chefs and when he saw that a mixer and flour were involved he grabbed an apron. There was a bit of taunting that I should create a “flour accident” but I couldn’t - Lelan is too nice.
Back to the salad. It was just one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Really. I peeled the peaches and tomatoes and made a quick 3 ingredient dressing in a jar.
Basil added just the right touch and the burrata was the perfect luscious bite. Mozzarella would be okay, but – wow – the burrata was so good. An added bonus was that it was gorgeous. We ate every bite and wished we had more. Please don’t wait to have produce ready toss before you make this salad! Visit that farmer’s market soon. Enjoy!
Peach, Tomato, and Basil Salad
Ingredients
2 ripe peaches, peeled and diced
2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and diced
Fresh basil leaves (about 12) torn – or herb of choice or convenience, mint or tarragon would also be nice
I large ball of Burrata or Mozzarella cheese, torn into bite sized pieces
Flaky salt for topping – like Maldon or sea salt
Pepper
Dressing
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp honey
Directions
Put peaches and Tomatoes in a large salad bowl.
Top with basil and cheese.
Mix dressing ingredients in a jar with a secure lid and shake to combine.
Pour dressing over salad, top with a pinch of flaky salt and pepper.
Toss to combine.
