Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad with Basil

Peaches are just starting to show up at markets and farm stops around Ann Arbor, and this is the easiest way to make them the centerpiece of a meal instead of just a snack. A few minutes on the grill brings out their sugars and adds a little smoke, which plays perfectly against cold, creamy burrata and fresh basil. It looks like a lot more effort than it is.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe but firm peaches, halved and pitted
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 8 oz burrata (or fresh mozzarella), torn
• 3 cups arugula
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
• 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze (or balsamic vinegar reduced by half)
• 1 tablespoon honey, warmed slightly
• Flaky salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush the cut side of each peach half with olive oil.
2. Grill the peaches cut-side down for 3-4 minutes, until you see clear grill marks and the edges start to soften. Don’t flip — you just want the cut side charred. Remove and let cool slightly.
3. Spread the arugula over a serving platter. Arrange the grilled peach halves on top.
4. Tear the burrata over the peaches and arugula in large pieces.
5. Scatter the torn basil over everything.
6. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and warm honey, then finish with flaky salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
7. Serve immediately, while the peaches are still warm and the burrata is cold — the contrast is the whole point.

Tips or Variations

• No grill? A cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat works just as well — press the peaches cut-side down for the same 3-4 minutes.
• Add a handful of toasted pecans or pistachios for crunch.
• If your peaches are very ripe, skip the grill entirely and just slice them raw — still delicious, just less smoky.
• This salad doesn’t hold well once dressed, so assemble it right before serving.

Where to Find the Ingredients

Michigan peaches are grown mostly on the west side of the state, so they arrive at Ann Arbor-area markets and farm stops a little later in the season rather than coming from a nearby u-pick orchard. Argus Farm Stop works with 200+ Michigan farms and is a reliable place to check once peach season gets going, and vendors at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market typically carry them through August. Community Farm of Ann Arbor also grows peaches in their own biodynamic orchard, if you’re a CSA member there.

For the basil, Tantre Farm, Slow Farm Organic, and Jacob’s Fresh Farm all grow fresh herbs this time of year. Browse the full farms directory for a CSA or farmstand near you.