Peach Caprese Salad

On more than one occasion this summer, I've been lured in by the sweet smelling, beautiful rosy hued peach displays at the supermarket and ended up buying way more than three humans could possibly consume.  (Admittedly, there are worse problems.)  Even though I choose peaches of varying firmness, they all seem to ripen and need to be consumed at exactly the same moment.   If left to sit on the counter just minutes past their optimum ripeness, they seem turn into juicy, peachy mush. 

Overripe peaches definitely don't go to waste in this house but devouring the juicy fruit almost always requires that one stand over the kitchen sink during consumption.   Despite my best attempts to get all of the peach juice to drip into the sink, a t-shirt change is usually required after the peach eating experience.   I refuse to waste an overripe peach though - I feel like they deserve better.  So it's either - eat them over the sink OR turn them into a delicious dessert or appetizer or even a salad!  Overripe peaches deserve to be made into a scrumptious peach caprese salad. 

I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive when I first saw this recipe.  I'm a huge caprese fan and I kind of felt like messing with the original tomato, basil, mozzarella combination seemed like caprese blasphemy.  (Is that a thing?)

It took me a little while to accept that there was a new contender in the caprese salad category but I'm so glad that I did.  This peach caprese salad is amazing and I can't make the claim that it's better than the traditional version but I would say that it's equally good.  Totally different but equally delicious.  

Peach Caprese Salad
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 pound ripe peaches, quartered and sliced into 16 sections
12 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced into 1/4" slices
6 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
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Whisk together oil, lemon juice, 1/8 t. salt and 1/8 t. pepper. 

Add peaches and toss to coat. 

Shingle peaches and mozzarella on platter. 

Drizzle remaining dressing over top.

Sprinkle with basil and season with salt and pepper.

I'm a big fan of Peach Caprese Salad but I'm not convinced that this yummy peach treat should be placed in the "salad" category.  I think it makes a great appetizer, a scrumptious lunch or even a fruity dessert.  Make this for yourself and let me know what you think.

Ciao!

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