Grilled Plum & Pancetta Panzanella Salad

Plums are by far the most underrated stone fruit, and I think it’s time they get the attention and treatment they truly deserve. Since plums are their best at the height of summer, it’s only right to toss them on the grill and add some smokey char to their naturally sweet-tart flavor. The transformed plums get tossed with crispy pancetta, tangy goat cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes, and grilled sourdough bread, then drizzled with a maple-Dijon dressing, turning this humble salad into a work of art. Salads are often the sidekick to the main event, but panzanella salads are much heartier and filling, making them perfect for a lazy weeknight summer dinner.

What kind of plums are best for grilling?
Typically, firmer fruit is more suited for grilling and will give you a higher chance of getting pretty grill marks before the flesh turns into mush. Firmness will vary depending on how ripe your fruit is, but black plums are typically a great option for grilling. Since they can often be on the tart side of the flavor spectrum, you can balance the tartness of the black plum with a sweeter Dinosaur or red plum. Variety will also add more pops of color to your salad.

How do you cut a plum into wedges?
Plums are a stone fruit, meaning they literally have a stone (called a “pit”) smack dab in the middle of the fruit, making cutting a pain in the butt. To get a clean wedge, remove the stem. Using a sharp knife, cut around the circumference of the plum, all the way to the pit, passing through the stem hole. With the stem hole facing you, turn the plum 90° and cut around the circumference again. Place your knife in between the existing cuts and cut around the circumference again. Then turn your plum 90° once more and cut around the circumference. From the top down, the cuts in the plum should look like spokes in a wheel, with the pieces clinging to the center stone. Using your thumbs, gently pry the wedges away from the stone.

Did you try making this? Let us know how it went in the comments!