Grilled Peach Salad

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This summer grilled peach salad with arugula, avocado, berries, toasted nuts, and a honey mustard lemon dressing is perfect for BBQs or as a fresh side.

 

Grilled Peach Salad: Your Go-To Side for BBQs and Potlucks

I know fruit-in-salad can be a hit or miss with people-but this is not your typical summer fruit salad. It's more of a savory-meets-sweet combo, similar to my apple spinach salad. Here, the peaches are grilled just enough to caramelize and soften, bringing a sweet-smoky flavor that's nothing like biting into plain raw fruit. Then you've got the salty punch of feta (or goat cheese, blue cheese, or gorgonzola), the crunch of toasted nuts (I'm using both pistachios and pine nuts), creamy avocado, and a little pop of blueberries. It's layered so every bite has contrast-sweet, salty, creamy, and crisp all at once. I make a simple honey mustard lemon dressing that's lighter than cream-based dressings-perfect for summer heat. Serve it with my grilled pork chops, grilled teriyaki chicken pineapple skewers, or grilled salmon.

It's the kind of salad that looks restaurant-worthy but comes together faster than most weeknight sides. Perfect for summer dinners or BBQs, just like my strawberry spinach salad or avocado mango salad.

The Ingredients & Substitutions

• Greens: I used arugula - its pepper flavor perfectly balances out the sweetness of grilled peaches. You can also use baby spinach/arugula mix, mixed greens, or lettuce like romaine.
• Nuts: I am using a combo of toasted pine nuts + pistachios. You can go with any nut or seed combo you like: pecans, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, candied or flavored nuts. 
• Peaches: Swap with nectarines, apricots, or even plums. You don't have to grill those.
• Berries: I am using blueberries, but you can add anything that's available: blackberries, strawberries, or raspberries.
• Cheese: I usually use either feta, gorgonzola, or blue cheese. You can also try goat cheese, mozzarella "pearls", or burrata. Shaved parmesan works too.
• Veggies: I use avocado + red onion. You can also try cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or corn.
• Protein Add-Ins: Try topping grilled peach salad with prosciutto or crispy pancetta. It's also great with grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, steak or pork.

Homemade Honey Mustard Lemon Dressing

For the dressing, I whisk together 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice with 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning, and about ½ teaspoon lemon zest. Then, while whisking, I slowly stream in ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil until it emulsifies into a smooth, glossy vinaigrette. Finally, I season it with a good pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. It's light, tangy-sweet, and ties the grilled peach salad together without being heavy-exactly what I want in a summer salad dressing.

How to Grill Peaches

Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium heat. Lightly oil the grates and grill peach slices for 1-2 minutes per side until grill marks form. Let cool slightly. If using fresh, just slice and set aside. I actually have a whole separate recipe for grilled peaches if you'd like more in-depth information.

How to Make Grilled Peach Salad

Arrange the arugula as a base on a large serving platter or in individual salad bowls. Top with grilled peach slices, diced avocado, eiced red onion, blueberries, basil, and crumbled feta cheese. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and pistachios. Drizzle the honey mustard lemon dressing right before serving.

What to Serve it With

This grilled peach salad pairs beautifully with grilled proteins-think juicy chicken, shrimp skewers, or a piece of salmon hot off the grill. You can serve it with summer BBQ dishes like burgers, corn on the cob, or grilled veggies. It also makes a great light lunch when paired with crusty sourdough or a fresh baguette. Here are the main dishes I recommend:

• Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• Pear & Brie Cheese Grilled Sandwich
• Grilled Flank Steak with Mango Avocado Salsa
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers
• Pan-Seared Marinated Ribeye
• Grilled Chicken Breasts with Honey-Mustard Drizzle and Zucchini
• Creamy Salmon Orzo with Spinach
• Mexican Street Corn Shrimp
• Grilled Marinated Pork Chops with Mango Salsa