Peach Arugula Salad

This Peach Arugula Salad is the perfect summer salad made with simple and healthy ingredients. It’s loaded with peppery arugula, fresh ripe peaches, red onion, toasted almonds, mini mozzarella balls, fresh basil, and tossed in a light white balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

You can enjoy this peach arugula salad on its own as a light meal, or pair it with a protein such as grilled chicken, salmon, or marinated tofu.

This has been the summer of arugula salads! It’s a unique and tasty green that pairs nicely with sweet or savory flavors. I’ve been having fun making strawberry arugula salad, blueberry arugula salad, arugula pear salad, lemon arugula salad, and now this delicious peach arugula salad.

Peach arugula salad ingredients

Arugula: Also known as rocket, arugula has a spicy, peppery, and slightly nutty flavor. The leaves are crisp and tender.

Due to arugula’s delicate nature, I recommend buying it just a couple of days before you plan to make this salad, so it stays fresh.

Peaches: This recipe uses fresh yellow peaches. They should be ripe and medium firm to the touch. The sweet and tangy flavor of the peaches go well with the peppery arugula.

Red onion: Red onions add a nice pop of color to this salad.

To tone down the taste of the red onion, you can soak the slices in cold water for 15 minutes before assembling the salad. Drain the onions thoroughly before adding them to the salad.

Sliced almonds: This adds a delicate crunch to the salad that complements the juicy peaches. Toasting the almonds enhances their rich nutty flavor.

Mini mozzarella balls: Bocconcini are small round balls of fresh mozzarella cheese. They have a mild, milky flavor and taste great in this arugula salad. Sometimes it’s labeled as ciliegine or mozzarella pearls.

If you can’t find mini bocconcini, you can use an 8-ounce fresh mozzarella ball and cut it into bite-sized pieces.

Fresh basil: This has a vibrant flavor that is both sweet and savory. It goes nicely with the white balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

White balsamic vinaigrette: The natural crispness and fruitiness of the white balsamic vinegar enhances the sweetness of the peaches. It’s light and fresh in this salad.

My homemade dressing is made with white balsamic vinaigrette, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey (or maple syrup), garlic powder, and salt and freshly ground black pepper.

How to make peach arugula salad

Toast the sliced almonds. Set a dry medium skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the almonds in a single layer. Stir the almonds for 4 to 6 minutes until they’re golden brown. Keep a close eye on them since they can burn quickly if left unattended.

Make the white balsamic vinaigrette. In a jar with a fitted lid, add the extra virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup if using), Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Close the lid and give it a good shake until the dressing is well combined. Don’t have a lid? Whisk everything together in a small bowl.

Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, add the arugula and fresh basil. Then arrange the peach slices, red onion, toasted sliced almonds, and mini mozzarella balls on top.

Drizzle the prepared dressing over everything and gently toss until combined. Or if you anticipate that you’ll have leftovers, add the dressing to each serving individually. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Make ahead and storage suggestions

Make ahead instructions: You can assemble the salad and salad dressing up to 1 day in advance. Keep the salad and dressing stored separately in the fridge in airtight containers.

Wait until just before serving to toss the salad with the prepared dressing.

TIP: Once fresh basil has been cut, it tends to wilt quickly. I would wait until just before serving to chop the basil and add it to the salad.

Storage instructions: This salad is best when fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours in an airtight container. The arugula and basil will wilt slightly, but it’ll still taste amazing.

What to serve with peach arugula salad

This arugula salad can be enjoyed on its own as a light lunch, paired with a protein for a light dinner, or served as a side salad. Below are some suggestions on what to serve with this peach arugula salad.

Add a protein – Chicken, salmon, shrimp, tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, or lentils.

Serve it with pasta – Cherry tomato pasta, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, or your favorite pasta dish.

Serve it with a sandwich – Mediterranean grilled cheese, caprese sandwich, chicken parmesan sandwich, chicken pesto sandwich, or veggie subs.

Serve it with bread – Garlic bread, crusty bread, baguette, focaccia, or dinner rolls.

Serve it with pizza – Vegetarian pizza, Greek pizza, Margherita pizza, pesto pizza, or white pizza.

Please let me know how you like this Peach Arugual Salad recipe in the comments below! Your feedback and review encourages me to keep creating new and yummy recipes. I hope you love this salad as much as I do.

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