Before I tell you about how delicious this peach panzanella salad is, I wanted to explain why my corner of the internet has been quiet lately. It certainly hasn’t been for lack of inspiration: as summer hits, a slew of new recipe ideas keep popping into my head. No, it’s been quiet here lately because of a job hunt, apartment hunt and cross-country mover hunt. I’m excited to announce that my husband has accepted a job in San Francisco – his dream job at his dream company, no less – and we are moving out next week!
As we navigate our way through a cross-country move, the days are becoming a blur and so are my emotions. I’m feeling excited but a little nervous, happy but definitely a bit sad. I’ve been a Chicagoland resident since the age of three, staying here for college and living in the city since then. But out of all the other cities in America, San Francisco feels the most like a second home to me. Surrounded by family on both my side and my husband’s side, plus one of my best friends from childhood, I know we’ll immediately find comfort in our new city. Chicago will always hold my heart (Chicago in the summer, that is), but I can’t wait to see what adventures our new home holds for us.
So please forgive me on the sporadic posts for the next few weeks. We’ll be making the 30-hour drive with our two cats, settling into our new apartment, and doing all those fun grown-up things like going to the DMV. I’ll try to squeeze in posts whenever I can, but I can’t promise that they’ll be the fanciest meals you’ve ever come across.
Onto this peach panzanella. Summer is in full force in Chicago, and this salad epitomizes everything I love about the season. It’s by no means a traditional panzanella, but it’s got some delicious homemade croutons that become ever so slightly soft from the sweet juice of the peaches and the tangy honey mustard dressing. Toasted pecans add some crunch and dried cherries provide some tart chewiness, and the end result really hits you with such an amazing variety of flavors. So throw it together on one of these endless evenings, a glass of crisp white wine in hand, and celebrate the fleeting sweetness of summer. I promise you’ll love it.
- Fresh bakery bread of choice, cut into bite-size cubes (about 2 cups)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Bag of butter and red leaf lettuce, or another lettuce of choice
- ⅓ cup toasted pecans
- ⅓ cup dried cherries
- 2 ripe peaches, sliced
- For the dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- salt and pepper
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Toss the bread cubes with olive oil and spread onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Bake about 15 minutes, flipping the croutons halfway through. Croutons should be crisp but not overly hard.
- In the meantime, assemble the rest of the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Prepare the dressing in a small bowl, whisking all of the ingredients together and adding salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the croutons are ready, add directly to the salad. Toss all of the ingredients lightly and add about half the dressing. If you need more, add little by little. Serve immediately.
Oh, fancy meals are overrated anyways. And congratulations on the move, how exciting! You can’t get much better than SF. Peaches are just coming into focus here, and I love that apple cider and Dijon dressing you’ve paired them with.
Thanks, Katie! We are thrilled about SF too – such a special city. I’m so excited about fresh peaches too – I wanted to celebrate them while they were in season!
Good luck with the move! I guess you’ll have to find an Orchard Street out in SF.
Thanks, Adam! You and Amanda must visit! 22nd Street Kitchen doesn’t have the same ring to it, so I think I’ll stick with Orchard Street 🙂
As good luck would have it, I was a guinea pig once again. This was such a flavorful combination. Fortunately, your intuition on how to complement the natural sweetness with the Dijon mustard gave it just the right balance. The crisp, crunchy, and chewy textures came together really well, too. I also liked the bit of softness still left in the bread. It seemed more substantial that way, with an extra chew or two for each crouton. It was the perfect summer salad.
I should recruit you to write descriptions of each of my recipes! I am glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did. I think my favorite element is the honey mustard, since it ties everything together so well.
Yay! You’re coming to my neck of the woods. 🙂
I’m so excited for your new beginning. Northern Califnoria is a pretty awesome place to be. Best wishes for a seamless move!
And don’t worry, this salad makes up for your time away. It sounds amazing and perfect for summer!
Sarah, I was thinking about how I’d be in your area! How exciting! I’m looking forward to year-round farmer’s markets, never wearing snow boots again, and plenty of sunshine 🙂
Another happy and satisfied guinea pig here! I love salad greens, peaches, pecans, dried cherries, honey, Dijon mustard and oh yes, homemade croutons…and I found the combination to be absolutely heavenly. Well done, Julia!
I’m very happy to hear that I pleased another guinea pig! I found the combination of everything to be heavenly too…I think I could eat this every day.
How exciting!! Congratulations to you guys! I’m kinda obsessed with moving and always get so excited when I hear that other people are moving, haha! I hope you guys have a great, safe trip and that the kitties behave 🙂
You always make the best panzanella salads!! They are my favorites and I’ve been craving peaches so this is perfect! Can’t wait to hear about your new adventures!
Thanks so much, Izzy! It’s definitely exciting to move (once you figure out all of the logistics!) and have a new adventure. It’s so energizing! And I will let you know how the kitties behave…Pippa will be very good the whole time, but Leo is the wild card 😉 I’m so glad you like the look of the panzanella. I am definitely obsessed with bread salads!
Waaaa? San Francisco welcomes you!! How exciting… and I know all about cross continent moves and the time/stress involved. I also relate to leaving one’s heart behind (gulp) — I’ll leave that one alone for now and just focus on this very exciting news for you and your husband Julia. Congratulations — his dream job no less. Please, feel free to connect with me by email if there is anything I can do to help or if you just want to chat /have questions generally about the area. We are not in SF proper by close enough :). So exciting… a new adventure! Oh, and the climate? One word: PARADISE. Thank you for sharing this wonderful peach panzanella with us at such a busy time… You know I have never made bread salad (well, other than Caesar salad) and I think it’s time I try! This one looks delicious (love the cherries too), xx
Yes!! Hello, neighbor! I am so excited to be in your neck of the woods. I’m sure your weather is absolutely perfect outside of the city, but I’ll definitely take a chilly SF summer if it means there is no winter! And thank you so much for your kind offer – I will definitely email you if any questions come up. Traci just told me she will be visiting SF in the fall, and I think a little meeting with all of us might be in order 🙂
Oh, and I think it’s time for you to try a bread salad! The croutons soak up the dressing in such a heavenly way…I have a feeling you’ll love it!
Yayyyyyy! For you two, Julia! I mean, very exciting times lie ahead… and an adventure for sure moving cross country with two cats! We did it with three and two vehicles.. a challenge, but funnn too! I’m so happy for you two!!
But then dad won’t be there to share his thoughtful, reflective comments regarding your dish (I always enjoy them… he’s e a great food writer!). Hard to leave, excited to go. A mix of emotions I know. But, you’re comin to the WEST COAST! ! Farmers markets, wine, sunshine, cool weather… beauty all around! You’ll love it! Sounds like you’re in good company too… I’m heading your way in the fall for a mini Vacation… perhaps we could have a quick get together?
Delicious combination of flavors in this fabulous salad, Julia! So happy to receive your recipe! Toasting your new experiences and adventure, Julia! xx
Aw, thanks Traci! We are absolutely thrilled to be on the West coast! Trust me, I’m already daydreaming about weekly trips to the farmer’s market in our neighborhood…and yes, all that wonderful wine will be fun to sample 🙂
My dad is definitely a wonderful food writer (and taste tester!). He and my mom will need to visit CA quite often to continue helping as guinea pigs!
Lastly, that is so exciting you will be in SF – and I would absolutely love to see you!! Kelly @ Inspired Edibles should join too!
It’s nice to know that you’ll be joining food friends like Traci out west where the culture for your kind of eating is such a big attraction. (And thanks, Traci, for your generous assessment of parental meddling.) Of course, Julia, your guinea pigs will want to visit plenty, and, on top of that, will want to try your recipes self-made.
Dear Julia
I wish you and Tommy all the luck (and patience) in your new jouney. Movings at the begining, are odd and kind of difficult but later becomes exciting and “plenty” (is that correct?) I am sure it is going to a very nice expirience.
PANZANELLA…!! I made it yesterday for my “wednesday” friends and It dissapeared in seconds…. Excellent salad , sooo refreshing and summery. Congratulations Jules, loved it . I will reapeat it on saturday for another group.
That makes me so happy to hear, Silvia! I love the panzanella too…you can’t go wrong when it comes to juicy peaches! And thank you for the sentiments on the move – I can’t wait for you to visit!
Such exciting news, Julia. A big move is always scary, exhilarating, exhausting and rewarding – all wrapped up together. I moved from NYC to LA 15 years ago and it was such a whirlwind of activities – but it all went by in a blink of any eye! You’ll be moved and settled before you know it. Best of luck to you and your husband! Really love this salad – peaches work so well in salad -a sweet and tasty addition.
Thanks for the nice note, Geraldine! Moves can definitely feel like a whirlwind. Ours is going well so far, but I don’t think it has really hit me yet that I live here. It feels more like some sort of strange extended vacation!
I love sweet peaches in a salad, this looks so wonderful and I love the contrast in texture!
Thanks, Emma! I love adding fruit to salads too – I’m not very good at snacking on fruit, so this is my way of incorporating more into my diet.
This does sound absolutely perfect for those endless summer evenings! I am so excited for when the peaches are available here. Peaches in panzanella would be amazing, and this dressing sounds so lovely!
Also a huge congratulations to your husband, and best wishes for your big move! I hope that you love your new home in SF! xoxo
Thanks, Christine! Long summer evenings are the best, aren’t they? So far everything is going wonderfully in SF, and I’ve finally been able to get back into the kitchen. Hope you’re having a great summer! xo