Grilled Peach Salad with Grilled Halloumi Cheese

Fresh peaches are my favorite summer fruit and grilled peaches are amazing. That means I’m always looking for ways to use them. This salad is one great way!

Grilled peaches are a special summer treat.  When summer rolls around, peaches are the first fruit I look for. They are so beautiful in their blush colored jackets, that I never miss them.

Though I love them best out of hand, peaches taste glorious in pies and cobblers and some might argue that peach shortcake is much better than strawberry. 

Peaches are great in sangria, but another favorite is a peach slushie with St-Germain. Yum!

They make great sauces for bbq and can be used for salsa, but this year I decided to try peaches hot off the grill. Yes, they are superb in salads and the grill gives them such a robust flavor.

Last week I had lunch with my friend Karen. Karen is actually almost family. Her dog, Logan, is Geordie’s dad and so I guess that makes us cousins! In a round about way, of course!

It was a lovely day outside and since we are now getting August temps in June, salad seemed a perfect main course.

What is halloumi?

Halloumi is a firm, salty Greek cheese that has no rind. It is a bit pricey, but I use it as a protein on this salad, instead of chicken or shrimp. Of course, hubby likes both!

This amazing Greek cheese is meant for grilling or sauteing in a pan. The outside gets crispy and golden, while the inside takes on the characteristics of a grilled marshmallow.

Though this cheese is high in fat, it is also high in protein with 7 g of protein in each 1 ounce serving.

Combining grilled halloumi, with grilled peaches works really well. This salty sweet combo is amazing.

Topping it with a dressing made from my fresh oregano made it even better. If you don’t have oregano, basil and basil pesto works great, too!

Throwing on some fresh shaved fennel, some gorgeous red pomegranate seeds, truffle salted almonds and pickled red onions, puts this salad over the top. Add some pretty tomatoes, too. Choose several colors,  slice into quarters, and watch how well they pair with peaches.

This grilled peach and halloumi salad served on this gorgeous platter that my mother got me in Italy years ago, made a good thing look even better.

How to Grill Stone Fruits:

Stone fruits such as plums, apricots and nectarines, are all perfect for the grill. I always toss them and the cheese with a touch of olive oil and fresh herbs before grilling.

Preheat the grill to medium high and place cheese slices and peach quarters on a clean grate. Watch carefully so they don’t burn. This may take up to 2 minutes per side.

Grilling, caramelizes the sugars in the peach, which seals in the juices and makes them extra scrumptious.

Another tip: I grilled the peaches and the cheese ahead. Keep at room temperature and then just before serving pop in the microwave for about a minute. This warmed them up enough so I didn’t have to man the grill while entertaining family!

Grilled peaches and cheese pair beautifully in this perfect summer salad. If you want something a bit heartier feel free to add some grilled chicken or shrimp. Tonight I’m adding smoked salmon.

Whatever you choose, just remember that peach season goes fast, so start early. Unfortunately this year we may not get Colorado peaches due to a late hard freeze. It’s a bummer, but thank goodness the first California peach I had this year was pretty good!

Salad season has officially arrived. I am so ready!

Other Summer Dishes:

Peach, Green Chile and Sage Salsa Cheese Bites

Halloumi and Oregano Shrimp

Corn Bread Blueberry Bread Pudding with Peach Sauce

Grilled Fruit Pies in a Cornmeal Crust

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This is an updated post from 2016.

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