During every season, I find reasons why I like that season the best. In summer, it’s the easiest to declare summer is the best! Complicated cooking is out the window and replaced with dishes that are barbecued, salads that require little or no cooking, and raw fruits and vegetables that are sweet and succulent. Tomatoes are brightly colored in oranges, yellows, and many shades of red, and summer squash lends itself to grilling or roasting. In other words, summer meal planning is Seriously Simple.
Recently I came upon this salad recipe from the California Wine Institute that sings the praises of summer’s best produce. I’ve reinterpreted this first course (or main course, depending upon how hungry you are and what you might be serving alongside it). Stone fruit like peaches or nectarines get better when grilled, bringing out their inherent sweetness.
Be sure to ask your produce person if the peaches or nectarines are freestone or clingstone. You want freestone so the pit comes out easily.
Feel free to change up the almonds with toasted walnuts, pine nuts, or even pistachios. The easiest way to toast nuts is to put them in a nonstick pan on medium heat and lightly toast them; move the nuts around the pan until they are lightly browned and aromatic. Then cool. You can skip cooking the corn and toss in raw corn kernels if you prefer.
This is a summer salad that you can put your own signature on, for example, by using baby gems instead of arugula, apricots or plums instead of peaches, cooked bacon or pancetta instead of prosciutto, and fresh mozzarella instead of goat or feta cheese. Have fun with this summer salad.
Grilled Peach Salad With Prosciutto, Corn, and Toasted Almonds
Serves 4- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon finely minced shallot
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large ear of corn, husked
- 2 large peaches or nectarines, ripe but firm
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 large, thin slices prosciutto
- 4 handfuls of baby arugula, about 4 ounces
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup crumbled goat or feta cheese
Bring a pot of unsalted water to a boil over high heat. Add the corn, cover, and remove from the heat. Let stand 5 minutes. With tongs, transfer the corn to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, cut the kernels off the cob with a sharp knife. Reserve.
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat grilling. Halve and pit the peaches. Cut each half in half again. Brush all over with olive oil. Grill on the cut sides until the fruit is lightly charred and slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
Drape a slice of prosciutto on each of four salad plates (or put all four slices on one platter, if serving family style). In a bowl, combine the arugula and corn kernels and toss with just enough dressing to coat lightly. Divide among the salad plates. Top with the warm peach wedges. Sprinkle with almonds and with feta. Serve immediately.
