There are only a few weeks every summer when the tomatoes and peaches are both absolutely spectacular. That’s when I am just dying to put them together.
Our Spicy Peach & Tomato Salad is bright, juicy, fresh, salty, sweet, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting. Ripe tomatoes and peaches meet cool cucumber and creamy feta, then everything gets dressed with a zippy lime and honey vinaigrette made with fresh garlic, shallot, cilantro, and bird’s eye chili.
Make the Vinaigrette Right in the Honey Jar
And here’s my favourite part: we’re making the vinaigrette right in the honey jar.
When you’re down to those last couple of tablespoons of honey, why scrape it into a bowl? Add the lime juice, zest, garlic, shallot, cilantro, chili, olive oil, and seasonings directly to the jar, put the lid on, and shake.
You get a beautifully emulsified dressing, you use every last bit of honey, and you don’t dirty another bowl.
That’s not just a salad trick. It’s a great way to make almost any dressing or sauce when you’ve got a nearly empty jar of something delicious.
The Honey Jar Trick
This is one of those little kitchen habits that makes so much sense once you start doing it. When your honey jar is down to the last couple of tablespoons, don’t move the honey.
Just add your vinaigrette ingredients directly to the jar, put the lid on tightly, and shake. The lime juice and olive oil loosen the remaining honey from the sides of the jar while you simultaneously make your dressing.
It’s efficient, creates less washing up, and uses every last bit of honey.
You can use the same trick with almost any nearly empty jar of:
• Honey
• Mustard
• Jam
• Preserves
• Tahini
• Nut butter
The next time you see that peanut butter starting to get low, make your Thai Peanut Sauce! Just think of that jar as your built-in mixing bowl.
Why I Love It
Late summer harvest, on a plate. The peaches bring sweetness, the tomatoes bring acidity and juiciness, cucumber keeps everything cool and crunchy, and feta adds that salty, creamy contrast that makes the whole thing sing.
The vinaigrette brings it all together with lime, honey, fresh herbs, garlic, and a little bird’s eye chili.
And don’t rush it.
This salad gets better as it sits. Give the peaches and tomatoes some time to mingle with the vinaigrette and the flavours become deeper, juicier, and more integrated.
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Spicy Peach & Tomato Salad
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Description
Fresh, light and bright. Spicy Peach & Tomato Salad combines juicy summer peaches, tomatoes, cucumber, feta, and a spicy lime honey vinaigrette. A fresh late-summer salad that’s perfect with grilled meats or smoked salmon.
Ingredients
- 3 large ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 2 ripe peaches, sliced into wedges
- 1/2 English cucumber, halved and sliced
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon Thai basil, torn, to finish.
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 small shallot, finely minced
- 1 lime, both juice and zest
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 - 3 bird's eye chilies, finely minced
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Make the Vinaigrette
• Use a nearly empty honey jar containing approximately 2 tablespoons of honey.
• Add the garlic, shallot, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, bird’s eye chili, olive oil, salt, and pepper directly to the jar.
• Seal tightly and shake vigorously until the honey is incorporated and the vinaigrette is emulsified.
• Taste and adjust the lime, honey, salt, or chili as needed.
Build the Salad
• Arrange the tomatoes, peaches, and cucumber on a large platter or in a wide serving bowl.
• Drizzle generously with the vinaigrette.
• Gently toss or turn the ingredients together without crushing the peaches or tomatoes.
• Allow the salad to sit for 15–20 minutes so the fruit and vegetables can absorb the dressing.
• Crumble the feta over the top.
• Finish with fresh cilantro and an extra drizzle of vinaigrette.
Serve chilled or at cool room temperature.
Notes
Make It Your Own. This salad is extremely flexible. Try:
• Nectarines instead of peaches
• Fresh basil instead of cilantro
• Mint for a cooler herbal note
• Jalapeño instead of bird’s eye chili
• Goat cheese instead of feta
• Toasted cashews or pistachios for crunch
• Avocado for extra richness
• Arugula or mixed greens as a base
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Chopping
- Cuisine: Fusion
