Here’s an easy summer Grilled Stone Fruit Salad Recipe. This delightful fruit salad is a fusion of juicy grilled peaches and a variety of summer fruits loaded with berries, cherries, and more. This fruit salad with a twist is topped off with creamy burrata cheese and drizzled with sweet honey.
When you grill stone fruits like peaches, their naturally sweet juices caramelize, creating a rich flavor that elevates them beyond their original taste. Combine them with a variety of fruits and sugar-coated walnuts, and you’ve got a fresh and original salad!
Thanks to the abundance of summer fruits, putting together this fruit plate is a breeze. Not only is it incredibly delicious, but its presentation is also stunning.
Before we dive into this salad recipe, I’d like to mention that my wonderful friends will also share their Summer BBQ recipes, so don’t forget to check out their posts below.
What is Stone Fruit?
Stone fruit is a group of fruits with a large, hard pit or “stone” at the center, encasing the edible flesh. Examples include peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries.
The Difference between Freestone and Clingstone Free
The main difference between clingstone and freestone peaches is how easily the flesh clings to the pit or stone.
Clingstone peaches: The flesh tightly clings to the pit, making it challenging to separate the two. They are called “clingstones” because the flesh clings or adheres tightly to the stone.
Freestone peaches: With freestone peaches, the flesh easily separates from the pit, making them simpler to slice and remove the stone. They are called “freestone” because the stone can be easily freed from the flesh.
The Varieties of Peaches
There are numerous varieties of peaches, each with its unique characteristics, flavor profiles, and ripening times. Some of the main varieties of peaches include:
- Elberta: One of the most popular peach varieties, known for its sweet and juicy flesh, often used for fresh eating and canning.
- Red Haven: An early-season peach with a beautiful red blush and a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. Great for eating fresh and for making preserves.
- Georgia Belle: A freestone peach with a delicate, sweet flavor and firm texture, commonly used for eating fresh and in baking.
- Suncrest: A late-season peach with a rich, sweet taste and vibrant color, suitable for fresh consumption and cooking.
- White Lady: A white-fleshed peach variety with a delicate, sweet flavor, often enjoyed fresh or used in salads and desserts.
- O’Henry: A late-season peach with a reddish blush and a sweet, slightly acidic taste, great for eating fresh and for desserts.
- Donut (Saturn) Peach: Unique flat-shaped peaches with a sweet, mild flavor, perfect for snacking and adding to fruit salads.
- Honeycrisp Peach: This variety is known for its crisp texture and honey-sweet taste, suitable for fresh eating.
- August Lady: A late-season peach with a rich, sweet taste and smooth texture, often used in baking and canning.
- Fantasia: A mid-season peach variety with a well-balanced flavor, great for eating fresh and in desserts.
*It’s important to note that peach varieties can vary based on the region and climate in which they are grown. Local farmers’ markets and orchards are excellent places to discover unique and regional peach varieties that might not be as widely available in supermarkets.
Why You’re Going to Like This Summer Fruit Salad
- Bursting with Sweetness: The stone fruit peach salad offers a delightful explosion of natural sweetness in every bite.
- Juicy and Refreshing: Each peach slice and summer fruit delivers a juicy and refreshing sensation, perfect for beating the heat.
- Colorful Medley: The salad showcases a vibrant assortment of colors from various fruits, making it visually appealing.
- Unique Textures: Enjoy the contrast of tender peach flesh with the slight crunch of other fruits and toppings, creating a satisfying texture.
- Creamy Burrata: The creamy burrata cheese complements the fruit flavors and adds a luxurious, indulgent touch to the salad.
- Drizzled with Honey: The drizzle of honey ties everything together with a natural sweetness, enhancing the overall taste and making it even more irresistible.
Here’s an easy summer Grilled Stone Fruit Salad Recipe. This delightful fruit salad is a fusion of juicy grilled peaches and a variety of summer fruits loaded with berries, cherries, and more. This fruit salad with a twist is topped off with creamy burrata cheese and drizzled with sweet honey.
The Best Way to Grill Peaches
The ultimate way to grill peaches to perfection involves using tin foil and a stainless steel grill pan.
- Adjust your BBQ to a medium to low heat setting.
- Start by placing the oil and honey-coated peaches on a couple of sheets of tin foil and grill them for 5 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the grilled peaches to a stainless steel grill pan and singe them for an additional 5 minutes, perfecting their flavor and texture.
How to Make a Grilled Stone Fruit Salad Recipe
This easy salad is so unique, pretty, and tasty. It’s a nice dinner salad when you have a surplus of fresh summer peaches. The ingredients are all things you may already have in your kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Peaches
- Pitted Cherries
- Black Berries
- Arugula Lettuce
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Burrata Cheese
- Basil
- Thyme
- Sugared Walnuts
- Honey
- Oil
Directions to Make this Peach Salad:
Step 1 – Grill Peaches
Wash and cut peaches into sections. Place in a bowl, coat, and mix well with cooking oil and honey.
Transfer peaches to a grill. Adjust your BBQ to a medium to low heat setting. Start by placing the oil and honey-coated peaches on a couple of sheets of tin foil and grill them for 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the grilled peaches to a stainless steel grill pan and singe them for an additional 5 minutes, perfecting their flavor and texture.
After grilling the peaches, place them in a bowl, reserving them for later use.
Step 2 – Prep Fruit
Wash and cut cherries, tomatoes, blackberries, and tomatoes. I cut my cherries and tomatoes in half. Also, I use a cool tool to pit my cherries. Here’s the link to it.
Step 3 – Make Sugared Walnuts
These microwave walnuts are so easy to make, and you’ll find yourself addicted to snacking on them! You can find the recipe below.
Step 4 – Build the Salad
Use a big platter and place a bed of arugula first. Then place your peaches, cherries, tomatoes, and blackberries on the arugula.
Place the burrata cheese on the sides. You can drizzle some of the cherry juice on the cheese if you like.
Sprinkle a little bit of fresh thyme and basil leaves. And right before, sprinkle honey and sugared walnuts on the salad.
Step 5 – Mix Ingredients
Just before serving, combine all the ingredients and allow their flavors to meld together.
Grilled Stone Fruit Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 peaches sliced
- 3 cups arugula lettuce
- 1 cup cherries pitted and cut in half and measured
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half and measured
- 2 burrata cheese balls about 8 ounces total
- fresh basil leaves
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 cup sugared walnuts
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tbsp oil
Instructions
Prep Peaches
- Wash and cut peaches into sections. Place in a bowl and coat and mix well with cooking oil and honey.
Grilling Peaches
- Transfer peaches to a grill. Adjust your BBQ to a medium to low heat setting. Start by placing the oil and honey-coated peaches on a couple of sheets tin foil and grill them for 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the grilled peaches to a stainless steel grill pan and singe them for an additional 5 minutes, perfecting their flavor and texture.After grilling the peaches, place them in a bowl, reserving them for later use.
Prep Fruit
- Wash and cut cherries, tomatoes, blackberries, and tomatoes. I cut my cherries and tomatoes in half. Also, I use a cherry pitter tool to remove the pit in the cherries.
Sugared Walnuts
- These microwave walnuts are so easy to make. You can find the recipe below.
Build the Salad
- Use a big platter and place a bed of arugula first. Then place your peaches, cherries, tomatoes, blackberries on the argula.Place the burrata cheese on the sides, you can drizzle a bit of the cherry juice on the cheese if you like.Sprinkle a little bit of fresh thyme and basil leaves. And right before sprinkle honey and sugared walnuts on the salad.
Serving Salad
- Just before serving, combine all the ingredients and allow their flavors to meld together.
Nutrition
Sugar Glazed Walnuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups Walnut Halves
- 3/4 cups Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 cups Water
Instructions
- 1. In a 1-quart pyrex measuring glass combine walnut halves, sugar, and water.
- 2. Cook in the microwave on high setting for about 6 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Stir several times during cooking.
- 3. Pour onto wax or parchment paper and let cool.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can cut up the fruit for a fruit salad the night before. However, to maintain freshness and prevent the fruits from becoming mushy, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble the salad.
But ultimately, this salad is best made and assembled before serving.
1. Make a stone fruit cobbler or crumble for a delicious and comforting dessert.
2. Blend the excess stone fruits with yogurt and ice for a refreshing fruit smoothie.
3. Create homemade stone fruit jam or preserves to enjoy throughout the year.
4. Slice and dehydrate the fruits to make your own healthy dried fruit snacks.
5. Use your stone fruits in savory dishes like salads, salsas, or chutneys to add a unique and delightful twist to your meals.
6. And, of course, make my grilled stone fruit recipe!
Yes, you can eat freestone peaches. They are a delicious and popular variety of peaches known for their easy-to-remove pits, making them convenient to eat fresh or use in various culinary preparations. Freestone peaches are prized for their sweet, juicy flesh and are enjoyed by many during the summer season when they are at their peak ripeness.
The sweetest peaches to eat are those that are fully ripe and known for their exceptional sweetness and flavor. Here are the top 5 sweetest peach varieties:
Honey Babe Peach: This small, juicy peach variety is incredibly sweet and has a rich, honey-like flavor.
O’Henry Peach: Known for its high sugar content and delectable taste, the O’Henry peach is a favorite for its sweetness.
August Lady Peach: A late-season peach with a high sugar concentration, providing a delightful sweetness.
Sweet Dream Peach: As the name suggests, this peach variety boasts a dreamy sweetness and tender texture.
Suncrest Peach: A late-season peach variety with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, making it a favorite for many peach lovers.
Fruit salad can be a good option for dinner for weight loss due to its low-calorie nature, high fiber content, and abundance of essential vitamins and minerals.
The natural sugars in fruits can help satisfy sweet cravings without the added calories and unhealthy additives found in many desserts.
Pairing fruit salad with lean protein or healthy fats can create a well-balanced meal that keeps you fuller for longer and supports your weight loss journey.
Select ripe and sweet fruits: Use ripe fruits that are naturally sweet and less likely to have a bitter taste.
Balance with sweetness: Add a touch of natural sweetness to the fruit salad by drizzling honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar over the fruits. Alternatively, you can sprinkle a bit of sugar or a sugar substitute if desired.
Citrus juice: Squeeze fresh lemon, lime, or orange juice over the fruit salad. Citrus juices can help balance flavors and reduce bitterness.
Soak or rinse: If a particular fruit is still bitter despite being ripe, you can soak it in cold water for a few minutes or rinse it under running water to reduce bitterness.
Remove bitter parts: If there are any bitter or unripe parts in the fruits, remove them before adding the fruits to the salad.
Add creamy or salty elements: Sometimes, adding creamy elements like yogurt or a sprinkle of salt can help offset bitterness and enhance the overall flavor of the fruit salad.
Hey, in case you missed it, I’m a huge fan of peach recipes! So, I’ve gathered a few delightful ones just for you!
- Peach Dumplings with Crescent Rolls
- The Best Peach Cobbler
- Grilled Peaches Recipe (with Brown Sugar)
- Peach Galette Recipe
The Scoop on Burrata Cheese
Burrata cheese is a fresh Italian cheese known for its lusciously creamy texture and indulgent flavor.
It is made from cow’s milk and hails from the Puglia region of Italy. Burrata’s unique feature is its soft outer pouch made from mozzarella cheese, while the inside is filled with a mixture of fresh cream and stringy curd, giving it a rich buttery taste.
When sliced open, the creamy center oozes out, making it a delectable addition to salads and pasta dishes and as a stand-alone treat when drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper.
And by the way, you can remove the outer skin of burrata cheese before consuming it. The outer skin is made of mozzarella cheese and is relatively thin and edible, but many people prefer to cut or tear it away to access the creamy center.
Thank you for dropping by and taking a look at my grilled stone fruit recipe! Now, let’s fire up those grills and savor this delicious summer salad!
Cheers,
Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com
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Annie Diamond
Janine,
Your grilled peach salad looks beautiful and delicious. I had no idea how many varieties of peaches there were…I want to try honeycrisp!
Can’t wait to try grilling stonefruit this weekend!
xo
annie
Melaine Thompson
Great minds….. 🙂
Heidi
This recipe looks so amazing Janine!!! I love peaches and I’m always looking for unique ways to cook/bake with them…I will be trying your recipe. Also, your photography is gorgeous!!!