This vibrant peach and spinach salad features juicy blueberries, creamy feta, and crunchy pine nuts. Toss it with Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing, and you have the ultimate summer salad! It works wonderfully as a side, appetizer, light lunch, or even dinner—just add your favorite protein.
The best summer peach salad
I love adding fruit to salads in the summer (and actually year-round, too)—it makes them so much more fun and refreshing! With fresh and ripe peaches in abundance right now, it’s the perfect time to take full advantage of seasonal produce. I paired sweet, juicy yellow peaches with savory ingredients like spinach, feta, and pine nuts. Not only does this combination taste incredible, but it also creates a visually stunning dish with all those yellow, blue, and green colors. Whether you’re serving it at a casual get-together or a more formal dinner, it fits right in. Plus, it can be made ahead of time, making it ideal for summer parties, potlucks, BBQs, or cookouts. My other go-to everybody's favorite summer salads are this super popular strawberry spinach salad, a gorgeous honey-lemon pear and goat cheese salad, and a stunning apple spinach salad with pistachios. You can't go wrong with any of them, and I recommend you try them all!
Salad Ingredients
- Peaches: Fresh yellow peaches are ideal for this salad. While white peaches can be used, they won’t offer the same vibrant presentation. Choose ripe peaches that are firm but not too hard, and avoid overly soft ones. Also, avoid unripe peaches that are too hard to the touch. They should have a slight give when pressed. Make sure to wash the peaches thoroughly under warm running water to remove any dirt or debris.
- Blueberries are highly nutritious, low in calories, and very tasty! They will make any salad vibrant and colorful.
- Spinach is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It’s high in fiber and a good source of many vitamins and minerals. Spinach is a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as folic acid, iron, and calcium. I used baby spinach, you can also use spinach/arugula mix.
- Feta cheese adds tangy flavor and creaminess.
- Pine Nuts: Toast pine nuts in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes until golden. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly!
Homemade Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing
Dress this summer peach salad with a delicious homemade dressing using just 4 ingredients: honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and lemon juice. I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice (not bottled) and extra virgin olive oil. They provide the best flavor. Combine all dressing ingredients in a mason jar and whisk with a fork to emulsify. You can keep this salad dressing refrigerated for up to 5 days. You can use maple syrup instead of honey and lime juice instead of lemon juice.
How to make a peach spinach salad
You need only a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes of your time - and the salad is ready in no time! Combine baby spinach leaves with sliced peaches, fresh blueberries, and crumbled feta cheese in a large bowl. Toss the salad with the homemade Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing. Divide it among the individual serving bowls and top with toasted pine nuts!
Variations and Substitutions
- You can replace peaches with fresh apricots, nectarines, mangoes, or plums.
- Use your favorite greens, such as spinach, arugula (or a mix of both), butter lettuce, or garden greens.
- Use your favorite berries. This summer peach salad can be made with any berries you love: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries.
- Don't like feta? Simply skip it, or replace it with goat cheese, Gorgonzola cheese, mild blue cheese, or fresh Mozzarella cheese "pearls" (small balls).
- Nuts. Peach salad pairs wonderfully with all kinds of nuts. I recommend pistachios, pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, or toasted almonds. You could also toss in some pumpkin or sunflower seeds for extra crunch.
- Salad dressing variations. You can substitute honey and lemon in the salad dressing with maple syrup and freshly squeezed lime juice.
Recipe notes
- Grill your peaches for more flavor and a more dramatic presentation!
- Add pine nuts before serving to prevent them from getting soft and losing their crunch.
- Add prosciutto or cooked bacon for a protein boost and a salty touch.
- Turn this into a peach pasta salad by adding short-cut pasta, such as farfalle (bow-tie), fusilli, penne, rigatoni, or orzo. If you need inspiration, check out this Summer Pasta Salad with Peaches, Spinach, Tomatoes, and Mozzarella Cheese.
Add protein
Adding protein can elevate any summer salad into a complete, wholesome dish! Turn this refreshing peach salad into a satisfying meal by adding rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp, salmon, pan-seared chicken, or steak. For meatless protein options, I recommend chickpeas or quinoa. Here are my favorite, incredibly simple protein-packed recipes that pair perfectly with this salad:
- Blackened Shrimp
- Best and Simplest Pan-Seared Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Cilantro-Lime Shrimp
- Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
- Cajun Chicken
- Cilantro-Lime Honey Garlic Salmon
Storage Tips
- It's best to serve peach spinach salad immediately, so I recommend making just enough so you have no leftovers.
- If you have leftovers, the salad can be refrigerated for 2 days. It's best to refrigerate the salad and the dressing separately. Also, add pine nuts right before serving. Otherwise, these soft nuts will get soggy quickly and lose their crunch.
More peach salads you might like
- Peach Caprese Salad
- Summer Fruit Salad with Peach, Cherries, Blueberries, and Feta
- Summer Peach Salad with Blackberries and Balsamic Glaze
- Peach Blueberry Spinach Salad with Prosciutto, Pecans, and Balsamic Glaze
Summer Peach Salad with Spinach, Blueberries, and Feta Cheese
Ingredients
Salad dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Salad ingredients
- 5 oz fresh baby spinach
- 2 medium peaches cored and sliced
- 6 oz blueberries
- 4 oz Feta cheese crumbled
- ⅓ cup pine nuts toasted
Instructions
Make salad dressing
- Combine olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and honey in a mason jar. Whisk well with a fork for a minute or 2 until emulsified. Add more honey or mustard, to taste.
Assembly
- Combine spinach, sliced peaches, blueberries, and crumbled feta cheese in a large serving bowl (or in 4 individual salad bowls).
- Add salad dressing and toss to combine. Top with toasted pine nuts.
Notes
- Toast pine nuts for about 5 minutes in the preheated oven at 350 F. Watch them at all times - the nuts burn quickly!
- You can use feta, goat cheese, or gorgonzola.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Loved the salad! It’s also really good with fresh basil.
Thank you for sharing your review on my new recipe, Heather, I appreciate it! ❤️
I live in Georgia and the peaches are just starting to get in season. Can't wait to try this salad and your other peach recipes, like the chicken and peaches I made last year.
I've heard so many great things about Georgia peaches - so delicious! ❤️