Will that be soup or salad? A question forever engrained in the American dining experience. Of course it all depends on what’s cooking, so to make this decision easy, Chef Justin Timineri offers up a unique and exciting salad with a Fresh From Florida twist.
Sure, peaches are not exactly in season right now, but that will not deter us from bringing you this intriguing salad from Timineri’s kitchen. The grilled Florida peach salad with candied pecans is pure joy, sweet, warm with a hint of spice on the cayenne-infused candied pecans. This dish is great alone, the centerpiece of a late lunch du jour, or an excellent entry into a multi-course meal.
Grille Florida Peach Salad with Candied Pecans
Serves 6
- 4 large peaches
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons flavored vinegar
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 tablespoon natural sugar
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 heads romaine lettuce
Preheat grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Cut peaches into six slices each; discard pits. Cook peach slices until grill marks appear (no need to completely cook peaches). Remove from grill and let cool at room temperature.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Heat a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat. Add butter, pecans, sugar and cayenne pepper. Cook while stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and turns golden brown. Remove pecans from heat and cool to room temperature.
Slice both heads of romaine into six sections. Place lettuce and peaches on plate and top with dressing and candied pecans. Serve immediately.
The official chef of Florida, Justin Timineri, shares some of his recipes with us. A proponent of eating healthy, locally grown and harvested produce and seafood, Timineri creates recipes that imbue that Fresh From Florida flavor. For more on Chef Justin, click here.
Recipes and images courtesy of Chef Justin Timineri and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For more recipes from Timineri’s kitchen, click here.
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