The Ultimate Summer Peach Salad with Fresh Blueberries & Creamy Balsamic Dressing

As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a fresh, vibrant salad to complement your summer meals. This **Summer Peach Salad** is a true celebration of seasonal produce, bursting with the sweet, juicy flavors of ripe peaches and plump, fresh blueberries. What truly sets this salad apart is its luscious, tangy, and incredibly creamy blueberry peach balsamic dressing – a homemade concoction that brings all the elements together in perfect harmony.

Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, enjoying a light lunch al fresco, or simply looking for a healthy and delicious side, this salad fits the bill. It’s surprisingly easy to assemble, requiring just 9 key ingredients (including the delectable dressing!) to create a dish that’s both elegant and immensely satisfying. Get ready to elevate your summer dining experience with this irresistible blend of sweet, savory, and tangy notes.

*This post was originally published in July 2018 and has been updated with new text and photos and a few recipe adjustments.

Why This Summer Peach Salad is a Must-Try

Peaches are an absolute staple in our home during this glorious time of year, and one of my favorite ways to enjoy their exquisite sweetness is by incorporating them into fresh, vibrant salads. There’s something truly magical about how their succulent juiciness perfectly mingles with savory ingredients, creating salads that are both light and incredibly refreshing. This blueberry peach salad epitomizes that refreshing quality and offers a delightful array of textures and tastes. Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Seasonal Flavor Bomb: It highlights the best of summer with peak-season peaches and blueberries, ensuring maximum flavor.
• Perfectly Balanced: The sweetness of the fruit is perfectly balanced by the salty feta, the crunch of pecans, and the tangy balsamic dressing.
• Creamy, Dairy-Free Dressing: The unique blueberry peach balsamic dressing is naturally creamy without any dairy, making it a fantastic option for various dietary preferences.
• Versatile Side or Main: While it shines as a side for summer grilling, adding a protein transforms it into a hearty main course.
• Quick & Easy: With only 9 main ingredients and simple steps, this salad comes together in a flash, perfect for busy weeknights or impromptu gatherings.
• Nutrient-Rich: Packed with fresh fruits, greens, and quinoa, it’s a healthy and satisfying option for everyone.

The star of the show, beyond the fresh fruit, is undoubtedly the easy-to-make balsamic dressing. Crafted from fresh peaches and blueberries, it offers a creamy texture that defies its dairy-free nature. Its delightful tanginess beautifully complements the juicy fruit and the salty notes of the feta cheese in the salad, creating a taste experience you won’t soon forget.

Ingredient Deep Dive: What You’ll Need & Why

Creating this spectacular summer salad relies on a handful of fresh, high-quality ingredients that come together to form a symphony of flavors and textures. Each component plays a vital role in making this dish truly unforgettable. Here’s a closer look at the key ingredients:

• Fresh Peaches: The heart of the salad! Look for ripe peaches that yield slightly to gentle pressure and have a fragrant aroma. Their natural sweetness and juiciness are unparalleled in summer. Yellow peaches are typically sweeter and firmer, while white peaches are softer and more delicate.
• Fresh Blueberries: These little bursts of flavor add a beautiful color contrast and a tart-sweet counterpoint to the peaches. Choose plump, firm berries with a dusty bloom.
• Your Choice of Greens: The foundation of any good salad. You’ll need about 6 cups. A mix of tender leafy lettuces like red leaf, green leaf, or butter lettuce works wonderfully. For a bolder flavor, consider spinach, arugula, or even a tender kale massaged with a little olive oil.
• Fresh Cilantro: This herb adds a unique, bright, and slightly peppery flavor that truly elevates the salad. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, fresh parsley is a great alternative, offering a milder, earthy note.
• Cooked Quinoa: Adds a fantastic nutty flavor, a pleasant chewiness, and turns this side salad into a more substantial dish. Quinoa also boosts the protein and fiber content, making the salad more filling.
• Pecans: Provides a delightful crunch and a rich, buttery flavor that complements the fruit beautifully. Raw pecan halves are simple, but toasted or even candied pecans can add an extra layer of flavor and texture.
• Feta Cheese: Its salty, tangy, and crumbly texture offers a wonderful contrast to the sweet fruit. If you’re making this vegan, simply omit the feta.
• Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil (for the dressing): These form the base of our incredible dressing. Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the best flavor. The quality of these staples truly makes a difference in the final taste of your dressing.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Perfect Peach & Blueberry Salad

This peach blueberry salad is incredibly straightforward to prepare, making it ideal for both quick meals and entertaining. You can serve it family-style in a large bowl or create elegant individual servings. Follow these simple steps for a perfect salad every time:

1. Prepare the Dressing First: The key to a truly flavorful salad often lies in its dressing. For this recipe, start by making your luscious blueberry peach balsamic dressing. In a high-speed blender, combine the fresh blueberries, half of a peeled and roughly chopped peach, your chosen oil (extra virgin olive oil works best), and balsamic vinegar. Blend on high until the mixture is wonderfully thick and creamy. Don’t worry if you see small flecks of blueberry skin; they add to the rustic charm and visual appeal! This homemade dressing ensures maximum freshness and flavor.
2. Assemble the Salad Base: Next, prepare your greens and cilantro. Wash them thoroughly and chop them as necessary into bite-sized pieces. In a large mixing bowl, gently toss the greens and cilantro together. You can either transfer this mixture to a large serving bowl for a family-style presentation or divide it evenly among 6 individual serving plates, depending on how you plan to serve.
3. Layer on the Goodness: Once your greens are prepped, it’s time to add the stars of the show! Artfully arrange the fresh peach slices, plump blueberries, fluffy cooked quinoa, crunchy pecans, and salty feta cheese over the bed of greens. Distribute them evenly to ensure every bite offers a medley of flavors and textures.
4. Drizzle and Serve: Just before serving, generously drizzle the freshly prepared blueberry peach balsamic dressing over the assembled salad. The dressing is best enjoyed fresh, so wait until the last moment for optimal taste and texture. Serve immediately and watch your guests (or yourself!) enjoy this refreshing summer delight!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Peach Salad

To help you get the most out of this delicious recipe, here are answers to some common questions:

Can you prep this peach salad in advance?

Yes, you can absolutely prep most of the salad ingredients in advance, which is fantastic for saving time. You can wash and chop your greens and cilantro, cook your quinoa, slice your peaches (toss them with a tiny bit of lemon juice to prevent browning), and measure out your blueberries, pecans, and feta. Store each component separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. However, the balsamic dressing, which includes fresh peaches and blueberries, is truly best enjoyed fresh. I strongly suggest making the dressing right before you plan to serve the salad to ensure its vibrant flavor and creamy texture are at their peak.

How do you store leftovers?

If you have leftover salad that has *not* been dressed, you can simply place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Undressed leftovers are best enjoyed within a day or two to maintain freshness and crispness. If the salad has already been dressed, it will become soggy more quickly. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to only dress the portion of salad you intend to eat immediately. The dressing itself, due to its fresh fruit content, should also not be kept as leftovers for extended periods; it’s best enjoyed within a few hours of making it.

Can you make it vegan?

Absolutely! This salad is incredibly adaptable for a vegan diet. To make it completely vegan, you just need to omit the feta cheese. Ensure that your balsamic vinegar is also vegan-friendly, as some brands may use fining agents that are not. The homemade blueberry peach balsamic dressing is naturally dairy-free, making it a perfect base for a vegan version of this salad.

What kind of greens are best for this salad?

The beauty of this salad is its versatility with greens! While tender leafy lettuces like red or green leaf, butter lettuce, or even a spring mix work wonderfully for a light, delicate base, you can also opt for more robust greens. Spinach adds a mild, earthy flavor. Arugula provides a peppery kick that pairs beautifully with the sweet fruit. For a truly hearty salad, consider baby kale (massaged briefly with olive oil to tenderize) or Swiss chard. Choose whatever you have on hand or what looks freshest at the market!

Expert Tips & Flavorful Substitutions for Your Peach Salad

While this recipe is fantastic as written, there are many ways to customize it to your taste or what you have available. Here are some expert tips and substitution ideas to make this summer peach salad truly your own:

• Greens, Glorious Greens: As mentioned, you’ll need approximately 6 cups of greens for this recipe. My go-to is usually a lovely mix of red and green leafy lettuce for visual appeal and a tender bite. However, feel free to experiment with spinach, which offers a mild taste, or arugula for a peppery zest. Swiss chard, kale (ensure it’s tender baby kale or massaged adult kale), beet greens, or classic Boston lettuce are all excellent choices. The best greens are always the freshest ones you can find!
• Cilantro Love or Leave It: I absolutely adore the unique flavor twist that half a cup of fresh cilantro adds to this salad. It provides a bright, almost citrusy note that truly complements the fruit. If you’re part of the “cilantro tastes like soap” camp, or simply prefer a different herb, feel free to omit it entirely. Fresh parsley is an excellent substitution, offering a cleaner, earthy flavor profile without overpowering the other ingredients.
• Dressing Dilemmas: Make-Ahead Options: The blueberry peach balsamic dressing is undeniably at its best when freshly made, right before serving, due to the fresh fruit. If you’re planning a meal where a make-ahead dressing is essential, I’ve got you covered! You can find my recipe for a delicious honey basil vinaigrette in the recipe notes section below. This vinaigrette can be prepared in advance and stored at room temperature for a few days, making your meal prep even easier.
• Peaches, Raw or Grilled: For a simple and quick preparation, this recipe calls for fresh, raw peach slices. However, if you have a little extra time and want to add an incredible depth of flavor, I highly recommend using grilled peaches! Grilling peaches caramelizes their natural sugars, intensifying their sweetness and adding a smoky char that is simply divine. Detailed instructions on how to perfectly grill peaches are also included in the recipe notes.
• Nuts for Crunch: To keep things straightforward, I’ve opted for raw pecan halves in this salad. Their buttery crunch is a perfect addition. But don’t hesitate to get creative! Chopped pecans offer smaller, more evenly distributed crunch. For an extra special touch, try candied pecans – their sweet coating adds another layer of indulgence. If pecans aren’t your preference, walnuts or thinly sliced almonds would also work wonderfully, providing similar textures and complementary flavors.
• Make it a Meal: Add Protein! This salad, with its wholesome quinoa, is already quite hearty as a side. But if you’re looking to transform it into a satisfying entrée salad, adding a lean protein is the way to go. Grilled chicken breast, pan-seared tofu (marinated for extra flavor), or perfectly cooked shrimp would all be fantastic additions. They turn this refreshing side into a complete and balanced meal.
• Alternative Dressings: While our blueberry peach balsamic dressing is a showstopper, sometimes you want to switch things up! This salad would also be delicious with a bright raspberry poppy seed dressing. The tartness of the raspberries and the subtle crunch of the poppy seeds would create another delightful flavor profile.

More Irresistible Summer Salads to Try

If you’re loving the fresh, vibrant flavors of this peach and blueberry salad, you’ll be thrilled to discover more of our favorite summer salad recipes:

• Chicken and Peach Quinoa Salad with honey basil vinaigrette – A hearty meal in itself!
• Stone Fruit Salad with peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries and a refreshing mint basil vinaigrette.
• Summer Vegetable Orzo Salad with peaches and feta – A delightful pasta salad twist.
• Strawberry Kale Salad with avocado and poppyseed dressing – A classic combination with a healthy twist.
• Blueberry Spinach Salad with dijon dressing – Simple, elegant, and full of flavor.

We hope you enjoy crafting and savoring this incredible peach and blueberry summer salad. It’s truly a dish that encapsulates the essence of the season.

If you make this recipe, I would absolutely love to hear what you think! Please share your experience and any creative twists you added in the comments below!

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