Caramelized Peach Caprese with Smoked Sea Salt.
This biggest quest of the summer starts now.
Which is… to find a good peach. Just ONE good peach. I’m lucky to get one or two good peaches every summer, which probably means I should move somewhere that has better peaches. And I tell you the same thing every year.
Or I can just cover them in a little sugar and butter and caramelize the heck out of them. I vote that option.
It’s caprese season, meaning that I can survive on tomatoes and mozzarella as long as I have a heavy handed dose of balsamic glaze or vinegar. And I know that last Monday I talked about making my favoritest summer salad ever but now it’s a new Monday and this is another favorite salad and they happen to be totally different so that’s allowed. Jess law.
Seriously.
I’m completely DYING over this. I thought about keeping the tomatoes in but they aren’t super perfect here yet and I didn’t feel like buying a few orange rocks from the grocery store. So glad. With the peaches and cheese and basil and vinegar and… and… and… UGH. So simple but so good.
Kind of ridiculous to tell you about this again, but I know you like some simple dinners too. This is something I can fully get behind as only dinner. Maybe with a little grilled bread. Sold.
The smoked sea salt also takes it over the top. Oh and I am imagining this as a stacked salad, with slices of peaches but also some local goat cheese and maybe a good drizzle of honey with some extra herbs? It’s too similar to post so I had to tell you about it. You should probably make it and send me a picture. (or an entire salad.)
Or I might just make it for dinner tonight. Again. Every week until summer ends. #predictable
Caramelized Peach Caprese with Smoked Sea Salt
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 peaches, sliced about 1/2 inch thick
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 (8-ounce) ball fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 10-15 fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the peaches with the brown sugar, then add the butter to the skillet. Once melted and sizzling, add the peaches and cook until golden and caramelized, about 3 minutes per side.
- To assemble the salad, alternate a peach slice with a slice of fresh mozzarella and a few basil leaves, making a low row or a circle. Sprinkle the salad with the smoked sea salt then drizzle generously with the olive oil and balsamic. Devour.
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108 Comments on “Caramelized Peach Caprese with Smoked Sea Salt.”
I have a problem finding a good peach too…so I just put them in dessert. Good idea.
But this caprese salad? YES. I love traditional caprese, so this is obviously better because there is smoked sea salt. Pinned!
Oh my goodness, I hear ya on the one-good-peach quest thing! Normally they don’t start tasting really good here in southwestern Ontario until late July so I haven’t even started my quest yet, but I’ve been drooling over all the peach recipes on Pinterest over the past couple of weeks. And on another note, this smoked sea salt business? Why have I not tried this yet!? It’s going on the grocery list!
In.
Love.
We’re really lucky to have great peaches nearby, but I’m always down with new fun ways of eating them!
I love peaches and I am always so sad when I cut into one and it isn’t that great. Definitely pinning this recipe for future use!
I LOVE caprese salad with peaches! I started doing it that way a few summers ago and have never looked back. So good. I have the same problem as you, however, with finding good peaches. It’s the avocado conundrum in fruit form. I buy them when they look great, and one or two days later, they are almost unusable. BUT! I will definitely be making salads like this when I can get my hands on the good ones!
NO KIDDING on the peach hunt! I brought home a huge batch last week, and like 2 of them were actually good.
This salad sounds perfect though!
I’ve yet to have a good peach so far, but that could also be because I live in Kansas, not exactly the prime peach state. Although, I have to say, eating them caramelized might be just as good as biting into a perfectly ripe and juice peach! Love that you amped up a traditional caprese salad, because without caprese, summer just isn’t complete.
I haven’t started to look for peaches just yet, so I am not sure how they are here. However, the tomatoes are really starting to pick up – yum. Lovin’ this caprese salad. :)
I am all over this. Love it.
I find the best peaches every summer at Costco. Forget the grocery store, forget the Farmer’s Market. Costco. Every. Time. Plus, if they suck, you can return them.
Come here and I will feed you all the peaches! This recipe made me laugh because I was at a wedding this weekend and they served caprese skewers with a bite of peach on the end!! And it was amazing. Loved the juicy bite and would totally love this salad.
Seriously can’t get over your food. So inspiring! I will be making this. like right now.
I got some peaches this week at the farmers market. I’m hoping one of them is good! They’re so hard to find in perfect form. I have buratta on hand and I’m totally making this asap! It looks so good!
Move to NJ for the best tomatoes, corn, and peaches. I don’t know what it is, but they’re always so delicious!
I get super disappointed when I buy peaches that are flavorless and mushy. Boo.
What type of smoked sea salt do you use? I have never seen it before!
My mind is blown, thanks. Looks and sounds absolutely perfect for summer! I’ve had caprese a few times already in the past few weeks, but throwing peaches in the mix is just genius. It can’t replace the perfection that is tomato, mozzarella, balsamic reduction and basil, but it looks like a nice alternative :-D. Went to the farmer’s market and saw a bunch of peaches too. Now I have a reason to buy them up!
How creative! Caprese is one of my favorite things to eat. Can’t wait to try it with peaches! Yum!
There is something about a really good peach that is so satisfying. And this recipe…oh my, Jessica…you’ve dressed up that peach so beautifully!
AMAZING! Oh my I had a salad like this once a few months ago and I remember it was to DIE for… I think I might roast the peaches in coconut oil because I love the flavor and add mozzarella AND goat cheese. BOOM perfection :) Thanks for the inspiration!
Absolutely lovely!
Yum!
Your photography makes me so happy!
Ugh finding a good peach. Not easy. Nothing worse than thinking you found a juicy sweet peach and then taking a bite to find out it is anything but. Such a disappointment!
It may be simple, but it sure is fancy! I love the flavor profiles, and the beautiful photography.
Dyinggggg. This looks amazing. I’m glad you left out the tomatoes. Even if they were ripe enough, I think this sounds better with just peaches. I want this for breakfast right now.
Oh. My. Yum. Best peaches in the world can be found in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia – Canada. Strange – but true. There’s even a town called Peachland. Again – strange – but true. And the best cherries in the world are from BC. Head up to Canada!!! (For the summer at least)
I think I may be the only person who isn’t into caprese salads. It’s the mozzarella. I can’t handle the texture in big chunks. It’s possible that I’ve just never had good mozzarella but I’d eat the HECK outta this salad if it were goat cheese. No question.
Caramelized fruit is the best! Love that you used nectarines and with the mozzarella, perfect salad! pinned :)
love this twist on a classic caprese salad! this looks so tasty and fresh. i recently had a really delicious salad with nectarines and bitter greens, so i definitely want to give this a try! #waitingforpeachseason
Can you FedEx this to me, ASAP? I’m thinking it would be the perfect lunch today (it’s supposed to be in the 90s today, and I’m not talking Saved By The Bell, either).
I want to make out with this salad so bad!! And yeah….the quest for an awesome peach is TOTALLY on!
Yum! Smoked sea salt? That’s so lovely. I’ve been on the peach quest for a while too. I finally gave up and bought a crate of unripe ones. After about four days, overnight, they all ripened perfectly! Now it’s a race to eat them all :)
Caprese Peach Salad? WANT.
I’m on a quest for the perfect peach too – I love peach season!
Add a little prosciutto to that and you will LOVE.
Genius Just genius. Love the smoked salt, the carmelized peaches, everything.
Hmmm Hmmmm Hmmm this right here looks like heaven. I’m obsess with anything involving peaches. Yummy!
oh heck yes!
Yeah, what is it with never finding good peaches? But when I do, I might treat myself to this salad :)
This looks so good! I would totally eat this for dinner, all by itself.
I have no words. This looks too perfect.
Delish – love the peach addition to the traditional caprese! I could also survive on caprese salads every summer (in fact, we ate that as our meal last night!).
Come to California and I’ll give you a box of juicy sweet peaches:)
Oh my gosh….this combines all the best parts of summer! Caprese salads are my favorite and caramelized peaches are what make life worth living.
Seriously it’s so dang hard to find a good peach. I bought one today…we’ll see if it’s worthy of eating, if not I’m making this awesome caramelized peach caprese! I LOVE the sweet and salty going on in this and then you added cheese..dying! Pinned!
Gorgeous caprese, love the caramelized peaches!
This sounds like the perfect summer salad! I LOVE the idea of switching tomatoes out for fresh summer peaches. NOM.
YES! YES! YES! This is a beautiful combo of flavors, I MUST have this!!
Well, I totally know what you mean. I live in California and I haven’t found a good peach in years. When I was a kid almost every peach was a good one. Now, it’s like trying to find a unicorn. I think the only option is to plant a peach tree in your backyard.
Yum! This looks ridiculously good Jessica!!! Totally summery and different!
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This looks amazing! I read the first few sentences and now I have that Shel Silverstien “The Garden” poem stuck in my head. About Ol’ Man Simon dreaming about one peach. Yum!
I never thought to mix peaches and mozzarella but it sounds very interesting. Peaches are one of my favorite summer fruits and I’m always looking for new recipes to add to my collection.
I NEED this in my life. Like now. Peaches are so dang frustrating. It’s a Russian roulette and I am frugal (nicely putting it. Really just cheap). But this is perfect. And the goat cheese idea. Yeah that’s happening. Like on the fourth. What herbs do you suggest go doing with it? I can’t think of what to put with goat cheese and honey, my cognitive function is just clogged by all the delicious.