Peach Beet Sandwich with Avocado and Walnuts

As July rolls into August, I am noticing an ever increasing anxiety starting to creep up in my heart. August marks the last of our sweet summer months and I’m not quite convinced I’ve gotten the most out of the season yet. Although I finally had a bonfire and gorged on my favorite blue moon ice cream, I still haven’t made it to the beach or baked that cherry pie I promised myself I would try.

Grant it, the beach is much more enjoyable on a caribbean retreat in the winter and I would probably use frozen cherries to make a pie to avoid having to pit them all anyway so the time of year is truly irrelevant for these. What I really don’t want to miss out on are the peaches. Sweet, sweet summer peaches. They just aren’t the same in winter so I’m making sure to take advantage of them this season.

Consequently, I am buying them by the bushel and eating them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve had a peach porridge breakfast and made this incredible peach and chicken salad for dinner. Sandwiches are a favorite go-to for lunch so I paired my juicy peaches with shredded beets, creamy avocado, and crunchy walnuts for a flavor-jammed meal perfect for summer.

I wholly admit to being a designer first and a cook second. When I saw my golden peaches next to the violet beets in my produce basket, I wasn’t concerned with how they would taste together but I knew they would look just darling smashed up against each other on a sandwich. So the taste was a pleasant surprise. I would say my favorite flavor combination this summer has been beets and peaches. Sweet, slightly tart peaches with the earthy, woodsy beets are somehow magic.

To hold the sandwich together (and to add another contrasting color), I used a smashed avocado and topped the sandwich with walnuts to give it crunch. I also layered some basil leaves for added herbaceous flavor. This sandwich is embarrassingly simple. I didn’t do anything to the peaches except slice them and the beets just got down. But I love the pure flavors each ingredient contributes and it feels good sometimes to simplify.

I used a sprouted bread, but a hearty wheat would work well, too. This sandwich is already vegetarian, but using a vegan bread will ensure it’s completely animal free, too. Regardless of your meat-eating preferences, if you like peaches you’re gonna love this sandwich.