Summer Peach Salad
A good meal is a sum of all its parts, no matter how simple it may be. A summer peach salad with only a few ingredients can be outstanding, if each ingredient can not only stand on its own but creates a beautiful harmony when they are all tossed together.
The sweetness of fresh ripe peaches plus the flavors of creamy, sharp and tangy blue cheese, sweet red onions and baby greens drizzled with a honey lemon dressing complement each other in a way that has you eating bite after bite until the whole salad quickly disappears. You may be wondering why something so simple as a summer peach salad has me singing its praises. My husband doesn’t care much, one way or the other, about salads and he hasn’t stopped raving about this one yet.
If you buy peaches that aren’t quite ripe, wait a day or two before preparing this salad. For this recipe, use your very best extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. I would suggest Danish Blue or Gorgonzola cheese, as they are the mildest of the blue cheeses and their flavors complement the peaches when crumbled atop the salad.
Summer Peach Salad With Blue Cheese And A Honey Lemon Dressing
Serves 2, adjust the recipe according
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1 or 2 fresh peaches (depending on size), pitted and sliced into wedges
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1/4 of a red onion, cut into slivers and soaked in ice water for 30 minutes
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2 – 3 c. torn mixed greens such as baby spinach, arugula, bibb or romaine
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1/4 c. crumbled blue cheese
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2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
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1 Tbsp. honey
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1/4 tsp. garlic powder
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1/4 tsp. onion powder
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1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
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fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Tips:
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Avoid peaches that have a green tinge to their skin.
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When shopping for peaches, they should have a slight sweet smell.
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A ripe peach will have a slight give at its stem end.
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Be gentle with peaches, they bruise easily.
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Peaches get softer and sweeter as they ripen.
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Once peaches are ripe, you can slow further ripening by storing in the refrigerator.
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A little drizzle of honey added to a lemon based dressing is all the extra sweetness needed for sweet summer peaches.
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Soaking onions in ice water makes them milder but is an optional step.
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I like to use a mix of baby greens, good ones are arugula, spinach and romaine.
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When is a salad not just a salad…when it is a summer peach salad topped with crumbled blue cheese dressed with a sweet homemade honey lemon dressing. My husband is not a big salad eater, he can take them or leave them. I know that when he eats his entire side salad before even taking one bite of the main course, it is really good. Search out some sweet summer peaches, make this salad and see for yourself.
This sounds wonderful Karen. I’ve never combined peach and blue cheese … whats up that. Thanks for a great reccipe.
I’m glad you like the combination of peaches and blue cheese Lea Ann, I believe it creates a wonderful taste sensation. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Delicious! All the right components! Thank you!
Hi Nikki, Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your nice compliment about the peach salad.
We’re having this again tonight!
hi Karen, we had a summer peach salad Friday night! So good! I will be posting my version soon, and yes the guys loved it!
Jenna
Hi Jenna, I’m having peaches most every day while they are so good. Your salad had to be terrific as well.
This sounds absolutely delicious and since I bought peaches yesterday I’ll definitely be making it. Thanks Karen.
Hi Linda, I’m glad that you liked the recipe enough to try it and thank you for sending me a photo of your meal.. 😘
Yummy, this sounds great! I must try it. Thanks.
Thank you Darlene, I do hope you have a chance to try the peach salad. I really believe you would enjoy it. I’ve had queso de Cabrales while in Spain and it is a great blue cheese and would be perfect in this dish.
How lovely – I bey it would be good with a touch of sherry vinegar too. I was just reading about peach farming in French Catalunya!
Hi Mad Dog, You are right about the sherry vinegar being good in the peach salad…it is always on my kitchen counter.
This sounds like my type of salad!
Hi Penny, Thank you for your compliment. I do think you would enjoy this salad, it truly is a good one.
Perfect time of the year for a peach salad. I have always used feta. Looking forward to making it with bleu cheese.
Hi Pam, While I like feta with watermelon, the bleu cheese is my choice with the sweet peaches. I do hope you will try the combination.
Peaches are terrific in salads. We love combining them with blue cheese, too, or sometimes feta. Such a nice pairing! This dish screams summers to me. Good stuff — thanks.
Glad you like the peach salad John, thank you. It seems our tastes in salads are similar, I’ve got a Moroccan one coming up in a future post. 😁
This sounds delicious and refreshing for a hot, hot, hot, summer day!
Thank you Suzanne for your nice compliment. You are right about the salad being refreshing during the summer heat.
We love this Karen! Couldn’t ask for a better salad this summer! Thanks for the recipe! And love the honey lemon vinaigrette!
Thank you Anna and Liz, I’m glad you like the peach salad and honey lemon vinaigrette recipes. Everyone should take advantage of this wonderful peach season if they can.
The perfect summer dish. Love such fresh salad with fruit and cheese, especially blue. 🙂
I’m glad you like the peach salad with the blue cheese Ronit. I think it made a delicious summer salad and appreciate your compliment.
A very nice salad and with all the ingredients that I like.
We really enjoyed the salad Jovina, thank you.
Fruit in summer salads is so good and the added sweetness contrasting the cheese makes them even better.
Thank you for your nice compliment Gary. I know fresh peach season is many months away for you.
I love this and knowing that you are a great cook I will try this salad.
I appreciate your kind words Gerlinde and hope you will enjoy the peach salad.
This looks really tasty. Blue cheese is a great companion to most fruits.
Thank you Dorothy, I agree with you about fruits and blue cheese being a delicious combination.
Karen, peaches are my favorite summer fruit. The peach salad looks delicious, I must try your recipe!
Thank you Pam, I hope you will enjoy the peach salad recipe if you get a chance to try it. Peaches are my favorite summer fruit as well…I have been enjoying one with yogurt every morning for breakfast while they last.
Just when I think I cannot find a new recipe, one does appear on the horizon 🙂 !! Have not used blue cheese with peaches and surely am looking forwards to being able to try . . . well, in about six months time !! . . . be careful, be well . . .
Hi Eha, I think the flavor combination of peaches and blue cheese is worth waiting for. Thank you for your nice compliment and wish, they are much appreciated.
I’d be happy with just the peaches and blue cheese. The rest is like icing on the cake!
Your comment gave me a smile Jeanie, the combination of peaches and blue cheese is a good one.
Lovely, simple, and so fresh! I just got samples of a new vegan feta, and I think it would be the perfect substitute for the blue cheese here. Nice and briny, a good salty contrast to the sweet, tender peaches… Mm, I can practically taste it now!
Hi Hannah, it sounds like you have a good vegan substitute to use in the peach salad. Enjoy!
I love the changing headers Karen. Dave is not a fan of dessert (summer) peaches so I seldom buy them. But when I do, I take care not to manhandle them, as a bruised peach is not nice to eat.
Hi Tandy, I’m glad you like my changing headers, thank you for letting me know. I know we all have are likes and dislikes but peaches are so good, I would think everyone would enjoy them.
This sounds like an amazing salad! I can totally understand why your husband eats it all before hitting the main course. We happen to have a ton (like 25+ pounds) of peaches on the counter right now, and we’re looking for fun ways to use them. I think I just found a new way! The blue cheese + peaches sounds like it’s right up my alley!
Wow David, that is a lot of peaches. Would you believe my husband wrote on Facebook that the peach salad was the best dish he’s had with the name salad. 💕 I’m glad you like the recipe.
Peaches and blue cheese! That is a winner combination for sure. We are loving the stone fruit season and just bought a huge batch so can’t wait to give this a try. Wishing you a super week ahead.
Thank you for your compliment and wish Bobbi. I hope you enjoy the peach salad if you get a chance to make it, we thought the combination was excellent.
This is such a delightful salad, Karen – and perfect timing, as the peaches in AZ are stunning this year. I have some wonderful local blue goat that I can crumble with this. Lovely.
I like the idea of blue goat cheese with the peach salad David…sounds great.
I can’t get enough of peaches at this time of year. I usually bake with them. But you remind me how good they are in salads, too.
I’m with you Carolyn about baked peaches as well as in salads. Actually I like them every way imaginable. 😊
Thank you for also including tips on how to choose peaches. I look forward to trying your honey-lemon dressing on some grilled stone fruits…
Thank you Atreyee, I’m glad to know that the tips were helpful. I think the honey lemon dressing sounds perfect for topping grilled stone fruit. Enjoy!
I’m just loving this new look! And this salad! It sounds divine!
Thank you so much for your lovely compliments Abbe. I’m glad you like the new look for the blog…thanks for letting me know. I hope you enjoy the peach salad if you get a chance to make it over the summer.
This looks wonderful Karen! And I agree on your peach tips, especially the ones with a green tinge. They never feel like they ripen properly.
Hi Lorraine, I’m glad you like the peach salad recipe. You are right, the green shouldered peaches never seem to taste as sweet.
oh yum karen. this looks so good. i would love some right now even tho it’s 9.30pm and i’ve had dinner and i’m about to have icecream and choc sauce! but still….
It is a nice compliment Sherry when a photo of a dish can make you want it…thank you for your lovely compliment.
Who wouldn’t love this delicious recipe? Not me. 🙂
Thank you Judy, I’m happy to know that you like the recipe for the peach salad. There is a wonderful farm just north of you (sorry I can’t remember the name) that I thought grew the best peaches in New Hampshire.
Karen, Last week I made both Peach Rosemary jam and Apricot Rose jam. I love capturing “summer in a jar” for my many customers at market.
The Ripe Mango chutney of three weeks ago flew out the door. Next up is Ripe Tomato Chutney made with local heirloom tomatoes.
Cool indoor projects while Mother Nature attempts to steam us all who venture out.
Your salad looks light and refreshing. Diane
I know your customers must really enjoy your delicious jams Diane…stay cool.
This does look good! I haven’t had any peaches yet this year. Local should be out soon!
Hi Inger, I hope your local peaches are starting to be picked and that you get try the peach salad soon. Thank you for your nice compliment.
It looks delicious! Great combination of flavors.
Thank you Pam, the peach salad was as good as it looks.
Such a great dessert! 💖
Thank you Eva.
Looks awesome!
I’m glad you like the peach salad Paul.
This is such a perfect salad for the summer…love the peaches in it.
Have a wonderful week Karen!
Thank you Juliana, enjoying a peach salad during the summer is a must. 😊
Peaches and gorgonzola are one of my favorite flavor combinations, so putting it into a salad is a brilliant idea. Our local peaches are just now coming to the market, so this will be made soon. Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you agree with me Ron about the great flavor when combining peaches and blue cheese…espiecially gorgonzola. Hope you enjoy the salad if you get a chance to have it over the summer.
We have been eating a ton of dinner salads lately, Karen. Peaches and blue cheese sounds so great together, I’m definitely going to be adding this one into the salad menu rotation! Yummmmm 🙂
Hi Marcelle, I know you and your family have been having salads for dinner lately. I love salads anytime of the year but especially during the summer. I think you would enjoy the peach salad and appreciate your nice compliment.
Sounds and looks delicious!
Thank you Ladyfi, I’m glad you like the peach salad.
What a beautiful and simple salad. Love the pairing of blue cheese with the peaches.
Hi MJ, sometimes the simplest of recipes can be some of the best. I’m glad you like the peach salad, thank you.
This sounds like a wonderful summer salad! I love the combination of flavors, including the blue cheese!
I love fruit in salads and your recipe couldn’t be more timely now that peaches are in season. We have a shortage taking place in S.C. this year due to the extreme heat. And just before I read your recipe, I pureed my last few peaches to make bellinis. I’d love to find more peaches at the fruit stands (I never buy them in a grocery store because they’re picked too early) to make this summer-perfect salad!