Nectarine, Tomato & Burrata Salad

Feelin’ Hot, Hot, Hot
What do you eat when it feels like you’re living on the face of the sun? I have lived in California my whole life and yes, in August and even into September, we typically will get days that are in the 100s. The lightning show we had over the weekend is definitely not typical nor is the humidity that went with it. I don’t know how people who live in hot and humid locations do it. Personally, I don’t handle it well.

My sister and her husband lived in Atlanta for a few years and I remember visiting them and felling like I was going to pass out—and it wasn’t even the height of the summer! You walk out the door freshly showered and you’re immediately sticky. I’ll take the dry heat, thank you. Even without the humidity just the thought of making something for dinner in the hot weather makes me sweat.

I am not a salad person per se. I like salads but they are not my go-to first choice for an actual meal. I usually have them with a meal so that I don’t go looking for a snack an hour later. The exception to that is when it’s hot outside. For the past week I have been enjoying a number of heartier salads including a couple of chef’s salads as well as various tomato salads. My tomatoes are loving the weather even if I am not. So, we have been trying to eat them as fast as we can.

Salads work for me in the heat for two reasons. First, not having to turn on a hot stove, oven or even the grill is an obvious benefit. Second, I tend to not eat as much in the heat so what would normally leave me hungry in an hour, actually fills me up just fine.

This recipe for Nectarine, Tomato & Burrata Salad is perfect for summer weather because it combines some of the best produce of the season with cheese. How could you possibly go wrong? The original recipe calls for peaches but I prefer nectarines. (Mainly because I’m not a fan of the fuzziness of the peach skin.) I have made this according to the original recipe many times, but I have also made it with the addition of fresh mango and/or cucumber to the mix. It’s tasty and cooling at the same time…

Nectarine, Tomato & Burrata Salad Recipe
Yields 4 Servings
Adapted from Bon Appetit

Ingredients
For the dressing
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons mild hot sauce (such as Crystal or Frank’s)
2 teaspoon unseasoned rice vinegar
2 teaspoon honey
Kosher salt

For the salad
3 ripe yellow nectarines, cut into wedges
2 large ripe tomatoes or 1 pound mixed tomatoes, sliced
1 large ripe mango, peeled and sliced (optional)
2 Persian cucumbers, peeled, seeded and sliced (optional)
1 8-ounce ball burrata or fresh mozzarella, torn into large pieces
Fresh tarragon or mint sprigs for serving
Coarse sea salt or Pink salt

Directions
Make the dressing
Whisk the oil, hot sauce, vinegar, and honey in a small bowl until the honey is dissolved.
Season with kosher salt.

Prep the fruit salad
Toss the nectarines, tomatoes, mango (if using), cucumber (if using), and half of the dressing in a medium bowl allow to sit for 5 minutes.

Finish the salad
Transfer the fruit salad to a platter. Top with the burrata and drizzle with then remaining dressing.

Scatter a few torn tarragon or mint sprigs over the top and season with the coarse sea or pink salt.

 

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