There is a quiet beauty in letting beautiful ingredients speak for themselves — gathering what is fresh, preparing it with care, and creating something delicious without overcomplicating it.
This salad was inspired by a morning at the market: crisp zucchini ribbons, peppery radishes, sweet sun-ripened peaches, and heirloom tomatoes at their peak. Tossed with a simple pesto vinaigrette, it is a celebration of summer’s abundance and the kind of effortless cooking I always return to.
There isn’t really a strict recipe here — just a reminder that when ingredients are beautiful, sometimes the best thing you can do is let them shine.
2 Zucchini, shaved into ribbons
4–5 Radishes, thinly sliced
1 Ripe Peach, sliced
Heirloom Tomatoes, cut into wedges or mini varietals cut in half
Fresh Basil (optional, but highly recommended)
2 Tbsp Pesto
3 Tbsp EVOO
1 Tbsp Champagne Vinegar
1 Tsp Dijon mustard
Salt + Freshly Cracked Pepper, to taste
Begin by preparing all of your ingredients. Using a vegetable peeler or mandoline, shave the zucchini into delicate ribbons and thinly slice the radishes. Cut the peaches and tomatoes into generous pieces so each bite has a little bit of everything.
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the pesto, olive oil, champagne vinegar, and Dijon mustard until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Arrange the zucchini ribbons, tomatoes, radishes, and peaches on a large platter.
Drizzle with the pesto vinaigrette just before serving and finish with fresh basil if desired.
Serve immediately and enjoy the taste of summer at its most beautiful.
Nadia Colella creates bespoke cakes, pastry art, and hand-painted commissions. Each piece is a small work of art, thoughtfully crafted to bring beauty and meaning into your life — whether for a special event, a bespoke piece, or a brand collaboration. Please share a little about your vision or project below. All custom investments start at $2,000.
