Be a Peach, Will You?

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by Hannah (BitterSweet)
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Peaches have been on my mind lately, and not just because they’re at the peak of perfection right now, flooding the markets across the country. Peach madness is actually coming to a close in the bay area, where unusually warm weather has facilitated early harvests and particularly exceptional yields. In its wake, I’m left with memories of almost a dozen peach-centric menus dreamed up by my good friend Philip Gelb, mastermind and chef behind Sound & Savor. Each dinner presented the humble fruit in an entirely new light, inspired by a diverse range of cuisines and almost no repetition between meals. It would be impossible to pick out just one favorite set of plates, let alone a single dish, but there is one in particular that inspired me to head straight for the kitchen as soon as the bold flavor combination touched my lips.

Wasabi and peaches may sound like odd bedfellows, but once you’ve tried them together, the suggestion doesn’t sound so crazy. Bright, assertive spice takes the lead, flaming out quickly to the round, soothing sweetness that only a truly superlative fresh peach can provide. A subtle floral quality can be found in the very best fruits, adding another dimension to this duo. Blended into a velvety vinaigrette and lavished over a simple summer salad, it shines with a clarity of flavor that’s difficult to beat, no matter how basic it may seem on paper.

The best thing you can do with superlative ingredients is just not mess them up. Seek out only the juiciest, sweetest peaches to prove that point with every invigorating bite.

Yield: Makes About 4 Servings

Peach Wasabi Salad

Peach Wasabi Salad

Wasabi and peaches may sound like odd bedfellows, but once you’ve tried them together, the suggestion doesn’t sound so crazy. Bright, assertive spice takes the lead, flaming out quickly to the round, soothing sweetness that only a truly superlative fresh peach can provide. A subtle floral quality can be found in the very best fruits, adding another dimension to this duo.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

Wasabi-Peach Dressing

  • 1 Very Ripe, Large Peach
  • 2 Tablespoons White Miso Paste
  • 1/2 – 1 Tablespoon Wasabi Paste
  • 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 Cup Avocado Oil

Salad:

  • 2 – 3 Persian Cucumbers, Thinly Sliced
  • 1 (10-Ounce) Package Cruciferous Crunch Collection (Or About 6 – 7 Cups Shredded Slaw Mix; 1 Cup Shredded Broccoli Stems (Optional), 2 Cups Shredded Brussels Sprouts, 2 Cups Shredded Kale, 2 Cups Purple and/or Green Cabbage)
  • 1 Large Peach, Thinly Sliced
  • 1/2 Cup Chopped, Toasted Pecans

Instructions

  1. To make the dressing, pit the peach and chop it into rough chunks. Toss it into the blender along with the miso, wasabi, and lemon juice. Blend to combine, pausing to scrape down the sides of the canister if needed to incorporate everything. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the oil, allowing it to emulsify into a silky-smooth and thick vinaigrette. Add more wasabi to taste if desired.
  2. For the remainder of the salad, simply toss together all of the vegetables and fruit. Add enough dressing to coat but not drench the mixture (you’ll likely have extra leftover dressing, which keeps well in an airtight container for about a week in the fridge,) top with chopped pecans, and serve right away.

Notes

The dressing can be doubled, tripled, or even quadroupled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 467Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 525mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 8gSugar: 14gProtein: 7g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimates.

© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: Fusion / Category: Salads and Sides

19 thoughts on “Be a Peach, Will You?”

  2. Peaches, as other gems of the orchard, example – the Apricot – are so entirely, wonderfully diverse in their uses in dishes, savory to sweet. My obvious favorites are the hallowed Cobbler and its cousin the time-honored Galette. Salads, and roasted veggies, with these fruits are ideal choices all the year ’round.

  4. OMG, great minds Hannah. I literally just made and posted a peach recipe, too! Yours is above and beyond with creativity though (mine is far more humble!). And seriously, wasabi peach? Where does your culinary genius (or madness!) come from? :)

  12. This looks perfect! I’ll need to try this once I can get my hands on some quality peaches 😊 love the idea of Wasabi and peach together, very clever!

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