RECIPES

Grilled Plum Salad with Fresh Mozzarella

Grilling caramelizes the plums, adding a delicate, sweet touch to the peppery arugula and milky, smooth mozzarella cheese. Serve this salad as a main dish or side to grilled meat or seafood.

Active Time

25 Minutes

Servings

Ingredients

2 cups fresh baby arugula or baby spinach
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 firm ripe plums, cut into 1-inch slices
2 cups torn baguette (1 1/2-inch pieces)
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
4 ounces Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics® Fresh Mozzarella cheese–Ball
1 tablespoon hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Cheese

Look for the Proudly Wisconsin Badge when shopping for cheese. Any brand of Wisconsin Fresh Mozzarella can be used in this recipe.

Instructions

Grease grill grate. Heat grill to medium.
Place arugula in a large salad bowl.
Brush grill grid with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place plums on grill grid. Grill plums, uncovered, over medium heat for 1-2 minutes on each side or until tender. Let cool slightly. Transfer plums to salad bowl.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over bread pieces; toss to coat. Place bread on grill grid. Grill bread, covered, over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until toasted, turning occasionally. Let cool slightly. Transfer bread to salad bowl.
Drizzle balsamic vinegar over salad; gently toss to coat. Tear fresh mozzarella into 1 1/2-inch pieces; arrange on the salad. Drizzle with remaining olive oil. Top with hazelnuts. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe Tips

A grill basket would also work for grilling the plums and bread. | Peaches could be substituted for the plums.

Cheesemonger Tip

Fresh, milky mozzarella is part of the pasta filata (meaning “spun paste” in Italian) family. Pasta filata cheeses share a common cheesemaking technique. The process involves heating the curds with very hot water and then working or stretching them into a smooth, molten mass before forming them into balls, braids, logs and other shapes.