Cherries and peaches are my favorite summer fruits. The natural sweetness of the fruit complements any dish from salads and pizzas to desserts (Cherry Clafoutis).
A donut peach, which is like a white peach in both taste and juiciness, is a perfect option for slicing up to serve on a charcuterie board, or on a salad. I always pick them up whenever I can find them at the market because they are just so delicious.
I opted for a bed of spinach for this salad, but you can easily go with a butter lettuce, or a mix according to your personal preference.
Since we always keep red pearl onions and halved walnuts in the pantry they were a natural choice, adding another flavor profile that enhanced the sweetness of the fruit rather than overpowering it.
For the croutons, I always like to make them myself. Just preheat the oven to 400F, slice up your brioche or other thick sliced bread into cubes, place them on a pan and drizzle with olive oil and freshly minced garlic and pop them in the oven for about 5-8 minutes.
As far as cheeses go, you can go with shredded mozzarella, fresh mozzarella pearls, or grated cheese. Since I was going with a Champagne Vinaigrette, I opted for a grated pecorino romano.
Peach, Cherry & Spinach Salad
Ingredients —
- 1 container spinach (washed)
- 2 donut peaches (sliced)
- 10-15 sweet cherries (pitted/halved)
- Walnuts
- 2-3 red pearl onions (diced)
- Brioche croutons (freshly made)
- Pecorino Romano (grated)
- Champagne Vinaigrette (Dress it Up Dressing)
Directions —
Prepare croutons according to the instructions above. Add greens to a bowl or platter, followed by peaches, cherries, red pearl onions, and walnuts. Top with croutons, grated cheese, and a drizzle of Champagne Vinaigrette.
