I really can’t believe that we’re already in the last full month of summer. Anyone who’s ever lived in the Pacific Northwest knows that every warm, sunny day is something to be savored. Up here, we can literally go months at a time without seeing the sun! Therefore, summer is truly a season to make the most of. For me, being completely obsessed with food, that means creating vibrant and colorful dishes using fresh, seasonal produce. And if it’s a dish that can be prepared outside, even better! Thus I bring you this Grilled Nectarine Caprese Salad.
This salad is crazy simple, and full of so many vibrant summer flavors. Fresh nectarines are grilled until smoky sweet in flavor. The grilled fruit is then layered with sliced mozzarella. Next, generously sprinkle fresh basil over the salad, and finally drizzle with olive oil, balsamic glaze, and a sprinkle of course salt.
Tips and Tools
One of the components of this dish is balsamic glaze, or balsamic reduction. Balsamic glaze is just balsamic vinegar that has had some of the water boiled out of it, so that it is thicker and more substantial. Making balsamic glaze at home is super simple: just heat balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium low heat until enough water has boiled off that it’s to your desired thickness. It takes about 15 or so minutes to reduce the balsamic vinegar down to a nice thick glaze, which is preferred for this recipe. You can drizzle the extra balsamic glaze over salads, roasted vegetables, or chicken!
This Grilled Nectarine Caprese Salad is the ideal appetizer or side dish for a barbecued feast. If you’re making this dish alongside other grilled foods, ensure that the grill is thoroughly cleaned before grilling the nectarines. I find this grill brush from Zulay Kitchen to be super effective. Any food or charred bits leftover can interfere with the flavor of the nectarines, so make sure not to skip this step!
Related Recipes
Want to make the most of seasonal summer flavors? Take fresh blackberries and turn them into this Blackberry Compote. This compote seriously couldn’t be easier. Plus, it’s absolutely unreal on top of ice cream, cake, or these Vanilla Bean Buttermilk Pancakes!
If you’re looking for creative ways to cook yellow squash, try this Summer Pasta with Yellow Squash and Sun Dried Tomatoes. It’s my current favorite way to enjoy summer squash, and such an easy weeknight meal!
Grilled Nectarine Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 4 nectarines cut into large slices
- 8 oz whole mozzarella sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- Generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare grill to medium heat. Make sure to thoroughly clean the grill before grilling the nectarines. I recommend using a grill brush such as this to ensure the grill is nice and clean before getting started.
- Grill nectarine slices until grill marks are visible for about 2-3 minutes per side, flipping them with tongs to ensure both sides are grilled evenly. Carefully remove from grill.
- Assemble the caprese salad by placing alternating layers of grilled nectarine and sliced mozzarella.
- Sprinkle the fresh basil over the nectarine and mozz, and then drizzle the olive oil and balsamic glaze over the salad.
- Finally, sprinkle flaky salt over the salad. Serve immediately.
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