Grilled Peach and Watercress Salad with Prosciutto over Flat Bread

The grill caramelizes the peaches and intensifies their sweet summer flavor. It’s a perfect match with peppery watercress and salty prosciutto.

By Recipe developed for Sur La Table’s Cooking Classes

Serves Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

Flatbread:

Makes 1 pound; 2 (12-inch) or 4 (8-inch) pizzas

  • ¼ cup (2 ounces) warm water (110°F to 115°F)

  • 2¼ teaspoons Saf-Instant yeast

  • 3¼ cups (16 1/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour or 00 “Italian style” flour

  • 1½ teaspoons sea salt

  • 1 cup (8 ounces) water

  • 3 tablespoons (1½ ounces) extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon for brushing

Grilled Peach Salad:

  1. Vegetable oil for brushing grill

  2. 2 ripe peaches, halved and pitted

  3. ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

  4. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  5. 4 cups watercress, washed and stemmed

  6. Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

  7. 10 paper-thin slices of prosciutto, torn into 1-inch pieces

  8. 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar

Procedure

To make the Flatbread Dough:

  1. Place the warm water in a small bowl and sprinkle with the yeast. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand for 5 minutes or until foamy. Stir to dissolve, if necessary.

  2. In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and salt and mix briefly to combine. Turn the mixer on low speed, add the yeast mixture and mix to combine. Add the water and 3 tablespoons of olive oil and knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can knead the dough by hand on a floured surface for about 10 minutes.

  3. Shape the dough into a smooth ball, place it on a floured surface and cover with an inverted bowl, plastic wrap or a damp cloth. Let rise at room temperature for about 1½ hours, or until doubled in bulk.

  4. When the dough is ready, use a large knife or a bench scraper to divide it into 4 equal pieces. With lightly floured hands, press out any bubbles that might have formed in the dough and form each piece into a small smooth ball. Place about 4 inches apart on a lightly floured surface. Let rise for about 45 minutes. Once Risen, roll out each ball and brush olive oil on both sides.

To grill the Dough and Peaches:

  1. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Using a silicone pastry brush, lightly brush the plates with oil.

  2. Place the peaches on the grill cut side down. Grill until grill marks develop, about 4 minutes. Turn and grill about 3 minutes more or until tender.

  3. Transfer to a cutting board and thinly slice. Set aside.

  4. Similarly, grill the flatbread until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes. Turn and grill for about 2 minutes more.

  5. Once grill marks develop, remove from grill and set aside.

To make the Watercress Salad:

  1. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil and lemon juice until combined.

  2. Place the watercress into a medium bowl and toss with enough dressing to lightly coat the leaves.

  3. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

To serve:

  1. Arrange the watercress over grilled flatbread and top with peaches and prosciutto.

  2. Drizzle balsamic over the top. Serve immediately.