Griled Peaches Anyone?

Kathy Strahs' Grilled Peach Salad

 

 

 

For Friday's edition of Tonia's Daily Dish, we learned that your Panini press need not just be used for Panini's!  Kathy Strahs, the author of The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook told Tonia about a fresh, light grilled peach salad that really goes well with a small about of blue cheese and a honey balsamic drizzle!  A word of caution, Kathy recommends you press lightly on the peaches.

 

 

Recipe from Kathy's blog PaniniHappy.com

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1⁄2 cup chopped pecans
  
• 1⁄2 cup honey
  
• 1⁄4 cup balsamic vinegar
  
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme
  
• 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper
  
• A pinch of coarse salt
  
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  
• 3 peaches, halved and pitted
  
• 5 ounces baby arugula
  
• 2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
  

 

Directions:

1. Heat the oven or toaster oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until they are fragrant, 4 to 6 minutes. Set them aside to cool.

2. In a small saucepan, heat the honey, balsamic vinegar, thyme, black pepper, and salt over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the honey and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is slightly thickened and syrupy, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the honey balsamic syrup cool a bit—it will continue to thicken as it cools.

3. Heat the panini press to high heat. If your panini press comes with a removable drip tray, make sure it is in place.

4. Brush a little melted butter on the cut sides of the peaches. Place the peaches on the grill, cut sides down. Close the lid so that the upper plate is hovering just above the peaches, if possible, or touching them very lightly. Grill the peaches until they are softened and grill marks appear, 4 to 5 minutes.

5. Spread the arugula on a serving platter and top with the peaches, cut sides up. Fill the cavity of each peach half with toasted pecans and blue cheese and drizzle with honey balsamic syrup.