Peach Mozzarella Salad with Basil and Prosciutto

Peach Mozzarella Salad with Basil and Prosciutto is an easy side dish or appetizer to make in the Summer months using fresh yellow peaches. Served with the very best and simplest dressing - balsamic glaze. Your family with love the fresh, savory, and sweet combination of flavors! You can use fresh sliced peaches or grill them for this recipe!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Mediterranean

Keyword Peach Mozzarella Salad, summer peach salad

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings people

Calories 279kcal

Author Julia

Ingredients

Ingredients you need to cook

3 oz prosciutto
⅓ cup pine nuts

Salad ingredients

3 yellow peaches (medium-size)
8 oz fresh Mozzarella cheese (large balls)
2 oz fresh basil shredded

Dressing

⅓ cup balsamic glaze or reduction (see note below)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook prosciutto

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spread Prosciutto in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Toast for about 10 minutes or more until crispy. Remove from oven.

Toast pine nuts

Toast pine nuts on a separate baking sheet for about 5 minutes in the preheated oven at 350 F. Watch the nuts carefully to make sure they don't burn.

How to prepare peaches and slice them into rounds

Wash peaches really well with warm running water to remove any dirt or debris. You don't need to peel the peaches.
Hold the peach down on a counter (not in the air) and use a small knife to cut down into the flesh until it hits the pit (starting at the top of the stem where the natural indent is). Continue to cut all the way around until it reaches the other side. Set aside the knife.
Hold each half of the peach with your hands and move each half away from each other gently, twisting, until the 2 halves are separated. One of the halves will have a pit attached to its center - remove it with your fingers, using small motions. This is why you want peaches that are somewhat soft.
Peaches are soft, so you don't need a super sharp knife. Be careful and don't cut yourself. Don't cut peaches while holding them in the air. Hold them down steady on a counter with one hand, and use the knife in the other hand. Be aware of your fingers and don't' cut yourself.
Once you have 2 pitted peach halves, slice each half into rounds. Some rounds will have a hole in the middle.

Prepare Mozzarella

Slice fresh Mozzarella cheese into rounds or slice them into squares to fit the peach slices.

Assembly

Layer rounds of peaches on a large plate or on several small serving plates.
Top with rounds or squares of sliced fresh Mozzarella cheese.
Top with shredded fresh basil on top of the Mozzarella and around the peaches.
Layer crispy prosciutto around the peaches.
Sprinkle with the balsamic glaze or reduction.
Top with toasted pine nuts.

Notes

Note about yellow peaches. Make sure to purchase yellow peaches (not white) as they make a beautiful presentation. Choose peaches that have a soft texture (but not mushy) - peaches should be soft and have some give to them. If peaches are too hard, they will be difficult to slice. Wash peaches really well with warm running water to remove any dirt or debris.
Grill peach halves if you like for more flavor and a beautiful presentation!
Homemade balsamic glaze. Make the balsamic glaze by cooking down the balsamic vinegar together with a small amount of honey or brown sugar until the mixture reduces by about half. For example, combine 1 cup of balsamic vinegar + ¼ cup of honey or brown sugar and cook it down. Consistency should be thick enough to coat the back of the spoon but should not be overly thick.
Use store-purchased balsamic glaze. It is sold in the same aisle as regular balsamic vinegar and/or olive oil.
Drizzle with a very high-quality aged balsamic vinegar made in Italy. Aged balsamic vinegar is often sold in specialized stores or sections of foreign foods at some grocery stores. It has a thick, syrupy consistency, different from regular balsamic vinegar. Just use it as is. And, you don't need to use much.
Or, use your favorite balsamic vinaigrette-based salad dressing.

Nutrition