Description
Homemade peach arugula salad brings Mediterranean freshness to summer dining. Crisp greens, sweet peaches, and tangy feta create a perfect balance you’ll crave with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 peaches (ripe, pitted and sliced)
- 6 cups arugula (fresh)
- 1/2 cup goat cheese or feta cheese (crumbled)
- 1/4 cup pecans or walnuts (toasted)
- 1/4 red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 cup basil leaves (torn, optional)
- 3 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Craft a vibrant vinaigrette by whisking extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl until smoothly blended. Season with salt and pepper to create a harmonious flavor base that will elevate the entire salad.
- Create a lush foundation of arugula in a spacious salad bowl, spreading the leaves evenly to provide a peppery green canvas for the remaining ingredients.
- Artfully scatter sliced peaches across the arugula, creating a colorful mosaic that highlights the fruit’s natural curves and golden hues.
- Sprinkle crumbled goat cheese or feta over the peaches, allowing the creamy cheese to nestle between the fruit and greens.
- Distribute toasted pecans or walnuts throughout the salad, adding a delightful crunch and nutty undertone to the composition.
- Intersperse thin rings of red onion to introduce a sharp, zesty element that complements the salad’s sweeter components.
- If using, delicately tear fresh basil leaves and disperse them gently across the surface for an aromatic finish.
- Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, using a light hand to ensure each ingredient is lightly coated without becoming soggy.
- Gently toss the salad using salad tongs, ensuring an even distribution of dressing while maintaining the delicate structure of the peaches and arugula.
- Serve immediately on a chilled platter or individual plates to preserve the salad’s crisp texture and vibrant presentation.
Notes
- Choose ripe but firm peaches to maintain salad’s structural integrity and prevent mushiness during mixing.
- Toast nuts briefly to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a delightful crunchy texture contrast against soft peaches and creamy cheese.
- Slice red onions paper-thin to prevent overpowering the delicate peach and arugula flavors, creating a balanced taste profile.
- Substitute goat cheese with vegan alternatives like cashew cheese for dairy-free diets, ensuring everyone can enjoy this refreshing summer salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 178 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg