Tomato Peach Salad is a celebration of, obviously, tomatoes and peaches, two delicious fruits that come to harvest at the same time. It made sense to combine sun ripened tomatoes and juicy peaches in a salad.
Peach Season is Here
The time of year to get fresh local peaches is now. We can buy imported peaches all year, but there is nothing like a tree ripened, local peach, a symbol of summer. Other than just gobbling them up fresh, I like to find different ways to use peaches while they are in season.
These Peach Pecan Cinnamon Buns are a delicious sweet treat, and Spiced Rum Grilled Peaches are a simple, yet elegant dessert. Peaches are also delicious in savory recipes, too, like these Peach Whisky Chicken Kebabs, or Thai Peach Chicken.
Peach Varieties
Globally, there are over 2000 varieties of peaches, 300 of them in North America. Check out some of them here. However, all of them fall into one of three classifications. They are:
Clingstone
As the name implies, clingstone peaches have flesh that clings to the pit. They also have high sugar content and soft flesh, so they are perfect for fresh eating out of hand, or for desserts.
Freestone
Again, as the name implies, freestone peaches have a firmer flesh that easily separates from the pit, so these peaches are a great choice for canning, preserving, baking, and recipes because they are so easy to work with.
Semi-Freestone
Semi-Freestone peaches are a hybrid of clingstone and freestones, combining the sweetness of the clingstone with a fruit that easily separates from the pit.
Tomatoes & Peaches in a Salad
For this tomato peach salad, I used freestone peaches. Although you can use any peach variety, I like that the peach slices, while sweet, are also slightly tart, and they hold their shape well. They are delicious combined with acidic tomatoes, red onion, and fragrant basil.
Which tomatoes to use in a tomato peach salad
I used grape tomatoes, which are the first ones to ripen in our garden, but any tomato variety will be delicious, just as long as the tomatoes are fresh, fully ripened and juicy. Heirloom tomatoes, when they ripen, would be perfect.
To Peel the Peaches or not?
There is no need to peel the peaches for this recipe unless you really dislike peach fuzz, which some people do. In which case, in the name of simplicity, you may want to use nectarines instead, which are simply peaches without the fuzz.
If your peaches are extra fuzzy, which some are, you can de-fuzz them by running them underwater and giving them a good rub.
Tomato Peach Salad with Basil
Ingredients
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 3 large peaches
- 2 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 1 cup basil leaves
- kosher or sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 ½ tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
Instructions
- Combine peaches, tomatoes, onion, and basil in a large bowl or arrange on a platter
- Sprinkle with salt & pepper
- In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and honey to make the dressing
- drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
I love the combo of peaches and tomatoes together, plus it just looks so pretty!
It really is a delicious combo, Emily! And pretty food tastes better, right? 🙂
My hubby is going to be all over this! He's down for trying anything with tomatoes or peaches in it. 🙂
Hi Raia, I hope you both enjoy!
Great recipe for me to use all my summer tomatoes! Looks so light and refreshing; delish!
Hi Sara, I know, I always grow so many tomatoes so ways to use them are always welcome, here, too.
I love learning things and today I learned that there are different varieties of peaches. The salad looks amazing.
Thanks Andrea! One thing about the different varieties of peaches, they are all delicious. 🙂 Enjoy!
I am seeing a lot of peach salads. And this one is so good. Got to make one soon. I love peaches.
Hi Roxana, This salad is so refreshing and it's a yummy way to use all the fresh peaches that are available right now. Enjoy!
Ooo I've never paired peach and tomato before, but it looks truly delicious! Can't wait to try it 🙂
Hi Chris, not an obvious pairing, but it really works. I think you're going to love it!
Elegant, easy recipe that looks as great as it tastes. Perfect for guests or family gatherings. Definitely a keeper!
Elegant yet easy is a perfect description, Tatiana! So happy that you loved it!
What a gorgeous salad! Perfect for a hot summer's day. Great tips for preparing the peaches too.
Michelle, This really is a perfect "hot summer day" salad. Simple and refreshing.
I love recipes where fruits and veggies come together..like this one!
Glad you found this recipe!1
Oooh yes, I only just discovered how amazing peaches are when served in a savoury dish, but have yet to experiment with this at home - thanks for this beautiful recipe, can't wait to try!
Hi Laura, peaches are really so versatile. I think you will love this salad.