This Peach and Burrata Salad with Spicy Pepperoni has got to be the epitome of sweet/spicy magic. Sweet and spicy recipes are among my very favorite, and I’ve got loads of them here. From my all-time reader favorite Firecracker Chicken and Fried Chicken Noodle Soup to a Thai-inspired sweet and spicy salad, we’re always adding things to this beloved category of good eats.
We are still sitting smack dab in the middle of stone fruit season and there might be no better way to enjoy sweet summertime peaches than in this perfectly balanced salad. A little sweet (thanks to the peaches), a little spicy (hi pepperoni!) and perfectly accented by the fresh, peppery arugula and cool, creamy burrata – this is one salad that is here to please. We love peachy salads here on MKL and this is one to keep in your back pocket whenever you need a quick dinnertime (or lunch?) win.
Why We Love This Peach and Burrata Salad So Much
This salad only has a few simple, gorgeous ingredients. We’ve got juicy, ripe peaches which I could write about until the end of time but you don’t want that so I won’t. Ahem. We’ve got some frizzled, crisped pepperoni to sidle up right alongside those sweet peaches, making for a truly fine duo. Peppery arugula is literally always in my kitchen – I put these peppery leaves on everything (see this steak salad and this utterly perfect fall salad for further proof). And there may be no better salad dressing than the perfect combo of good fruity olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
When you combine each of these things together, you get balance – you get a simply stunning cast of characters that perform harmoniously together. Like the cast of Hamilton or something … yes, this one is the definition of simply stunning summertime fare.
Peach and Burrata Salad FAQ’s
What cheese can be substituted for burrata?
Fresh mozzarella or ricotta can be substituted for burrata.
Can you make a peach salad in advance?
Yes, you can make a peach salad in advance – but not too far ahead. This one can be made a few hours ahead of time, just wait to season until just before you serve as the salt will pull moisture out of the peaches and muck things up for you a bit.
What can you substitute for pepperoni?
Other cured sausages and thinly sliced meats such as summer sausage, capicola, and salami can be subbed for pepperoni. For this salad, even big pieces of bacon could be fantastic.
Alternative Ways to Serve this Peach and Burrata Salad
I am obsessed with fruit and meat salads. Truly, I never get sick of creating recipes like this. From my Watermelon and Candied Bacon riff on a Caprese salad to this peach, shishito and summer sausage number – I will never get sick of this stuff. This salad, like so many often are, is really a launch pad for your own riffing, tweaking and experimentation. Plums looking especially good to you? Swap those in instead. Want to use salami instead of pepperoni? No worries. Have some watercress that needs to be used up, that tags in nicely for arugula.
- Serve it with a cool and refreshing summer cocktail or mocktail. My peachy paloma would be fitting, of course. But so would this cool and refreshing minty cherry limeade. Oooh, what about a painkiller? Yes, that’d be a solid move, too.
- Serve it alongside a simple protein main course, like my Margarita Chicken or a Simple Chicken and Rice Skillet.
- Serve it with a rich and hearty casserole or bake, to bring balance and freshness to the table. It would get along nicely with my creamy green chile chicken enchiladas or my Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja.
How to Make this Peach and Burrata Salad with Spicy Pepperoni
There may very well be a nearly infinite number of summery, peach-filled caprese salads floating around on the Internet at this point – just caprese ad nauseum. And peaches and burrata, the dynamic duo that they are, are definitely having a moment right now. But this Peach and Burrata Salad combination is so wonderful, and just different enough, that we couldn’t not share it, you know? That spicy/sweet magic speaks for itself, ad infinitum and beyond …
- Place a large skillet over medium heat, and add the pepperoni. Cook, turning/stirring occasionally, until it has crisped and darkened just a bit; about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, arrange the peach slices on a large platter and place bits of torn burrata all around, arranging things how you like. Scatter the fried pepperoni around, allowing the spicy drippings from the pan to drizzle down onto the peaches and burrata. Add some arugula to the mix, just sprinkling it down haphazardly over everything, and then drizzle with a little olive oil and balsamic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.Â
Peach and Burrata Salad with Spicy Pepperoni
The perfect late summer recipe, this Peaches & Cream Salad with Spicy Pepperoni combines juicy sweet peaches, creamy burrata, and some quick-crisped spicy pepperoni, making what has quickly become one of the most requested dishes to come out of MKL. Â
- Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced spicy pepperoni rounds (amount doesn’t have to be exact)
- 2 balls of fresh burrata cheese
- 2 ripe peaches, any color, pitted and sliced (no need to peel)
- 2 cups baby arugula
- Olive oil, as needed
- Balsamic vinegar, as needed
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium heat, and add the pepperoni. Cook, turning/stirring occasionally, until it has crisped and darkened just a bit; about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, arrange the peach slices on a large platter and place bits of torn burrata all around, arranging things how you like. Scatter the fried pepperoni around, allowing the spicy drippings from the pan to drizzle down onto the peaches and burrata. Add some arugula to the mix, just sprinkling it down haphazardly over everything, and then drizzle with a little olive oil and balsamic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.Â
