Scrumptious Summer Stone Fruit Caprese Salad

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So can I be honest? I do not like fresh tomatoes. I know that tomatoes are a fruit. And yes I am told that fresh tomatoes are the bomb. However, I still do not like them. Call me crazy but don’t we all have a little crazy in us???

Recently, while at a restaurant watching my family devour caprese salad, it occurred to me that I could make a summer fruit caprese salad. Why not revise a recipe to meet your personal taste right? Like I always say “You Do You Boo”. I recently made this recipe for a family dinner and it was noted by my family members that this salad is almost a dessert it is so delicious.

A stellar caprese starts with great fruit and what better time to get stellar fruit than August. Summer fruits are one of my favorite things about summer – peaches, cherries, plums, blueberries, cantaloupe and so on. As tomatoes are a fruit, stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums are very similar in flavor. They’re similar in flavor to tomatoes, but need a little help to relinquish their juices and bring out all the sweet goodness. By letting the sliced fruit sit in the salt, sugar and lemon juice dressing, their fruitiness becomes more dynamic.

You can use your favorite summer fruits in this recipe. I choose peaches, cherries and plums because these three are my all time favorite summer fruits.

It is really important to make this recipe when summer stone fruits that are in season as they are the star of the show in this recipe and there is nothing better than a ripe delicious peach, plum or cherry.  I usually get my peaches from the farmer’s market but I have also found really good peaches at Costco and Harris Teeter.  I like to use Belgioioso Fresh Mozzarella but any sliced fresh mozzarella will work. For this recipe, I used the mozzarella balls. I grow basil every year so I use fresh basil but in a pinch I have used the Gourmet Garden brand lightly dried basil when I did not have fresh basil and it worked just as well as the fresh basil. 

If you are looking for a easy way to pit your cherries, you must purchase one of my favorite kitchen gadgets –

Summer Stone Fruit Caprese Salad

Recipe by cookingwithauntpam@gmail.comCourse: Salads, Appetizers, DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4-6

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Ripe stone fruits such as peaches, plums and cherries with fresh mozzarella makes this sweet caprese salad one of the favorite summers salads.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of ripe but firm stone fruit (such as nectarines, peaches, plums, cherries or mix)

• 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice

• 3 teaspoons granulated sugar

• 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella

• 10 basil or mint leaves, or a combination, cut into pieces

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Directions

• Pit the stone fruit and cut into pieces. Transfer to a serving platter, then sprinkle with the lemon juice, sugar and flaky sea salt. Toss with your hands, then let sit until juices pool on the platter, 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust sugar, salt and lemon juice until the fruit tastes perky and bright — like the greatest stone fruit you’ve eaten
• Tear the mozzarella into bite-size pieces (or you can always use the mozzarella balls) and nestle it among the fruit. Tuck in the herb leaves. Drizzle the platter with olive oil. If the cheese looks dry, add a little more oil. Sprinkle with a few grinds of black pepper and a pinch of flaky salt, and serve.