To be honest, I feel like I really channeled my inner Molly Baz with this one y’all. This Peach & Tomato Caprese is bright, cheerful, clever, and chic.
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the end of summertime than with the combination of peaches and tomatoes, balanced with the bright, herbal flavor of basil and mint, and the creamy smoothness of whole milk ricotta and the crunch of toasted hazelnuts.
It’s all feeling very Italian summer and I am not mad about that at all!
Ingredient Substitutions
- No cherry or grape tomatoes? Any ripe tomato will do. Or you could skip tomato and substitute with roasted red peppers to put a spin on it.
- No ricotta? Substitute a mild cheese such as fresh mozzarella or chevré.
- No microgreens or arugula? Try a handful of baby spinach.
- No hazelnuts? Toasted pecans would be great as well.
- No fresh lemon juice? A drizzle of good balsamic vinegar is a great idea.
Recipe Tips & FAQs
- Make sure your peaches are ripe. You should be able to easily pop the pit out of your peach once you cut into it. If you can’t, this salad just won’t taste the same.
- Did you know that tomatoes develop a mealy texture if they are refrigerated below 55˚F? Your fridge runs around 40˚F. What I’m saying is—don’t put your tomatoes in the refrigerator.
- How to toast hazelnuts: Roast them on a baking tray at 225˚F until they turn golden brown and develop a pleasing aroma, about 2 ½ hours.
- I beg of you, break out that good bottle of olive oil when you make this dish. This is its time to shine!
Serving Suggestions
- Win the potluck! Bring this Peach & Tomato Caprese and a bottle of Albariño or a dry Rosé.
- Pair it with Almond Crusted Chicken Cutlets for a main course moment.
- Alchemize it! Add thinly sliced prosciutto d’Parma to add a hint of salty contrast.
Storage and Shelf Life
Make Ahead: not recommended
Refrigerate: not recommended
Freezer: not recommended
Alchemy in Action: Ingredient Benefits
Peaches and tomatoes are both high in antioxidants and Vitamin C, which are great for your immune system, reducing inflammation, and preventing heart disease.
And the fresh herbs in this caprese have a couple of superpowers: they are full of anti-inflammatory compounds and support healthy digestion.
Final Thoughts
This Peach & Tomato Caprese is not only extremely on trend, it tastes great and you can feel good about what you’re putting in your body. Make it for your next weekend bbq or potluck dinner, or enjoy it with an Almond Breaded Chicken Cutlet for a great weekday lunch or dinner.
Have you tried this recipe yet? I’d love to hear what you thought in the comment section below.
Peach & Tomato Caprese with Ricotta
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe peach
- 1 cup ripe cherry or grape tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons whole milk ricotta
- 1 cup microgreens or arugula
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons mint leaves for garnish
- 2 tablespoons toasted hazelnuts
- 12 lemon
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Assemble the Salad: Slice a large peach and place it in a single layer on the plate.
- Next cut a cup of tomatoes into ¼-inch coins and sprinkle them on top.
- Evenly distribute small scoops of the 3 tablespoons of ricotta all over the base.
- Garnish with 2 tablespoons toasted hazelnuts, 1 cup microgreens, ¼ cup fresh basil and 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves.
- Squeeze half a lemon evenly over the top, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
- Season to taste with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.
Hi, I’m Julia.
I’m a chef and wellness advocate passionate about helping others live well through nourishing food. I trained at the Culinary Institute of America and now work as a personal chef and community food advocate in Atlanta.
Want to know what inspired me to start Everyday Alchemy? Click the link icon below to read more.
Tried this in Julia’s cooking class. It was a true standout. Cant wait to serve this at our next dinner party!
Yay! Cooking with y’all last night was such a joy — thank you for taking the time to explore my little corner of the internet!