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Summer's essence comes alive in this peach goat cheese salad with every cool, bright mouthful. Sweet juicy peaches team up with crunchy fresh cucumbers, while the toasted almonds add a satisfying snap and rich nutty flavor.
Zesty Dressing Elements
- Olive Oil: Forms the smooth base and packs healthy fats into your dressing.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Brings a sweet tang that works magic with the peach flavor.
- Dijon Mustard: Helps blend everything while adding a nice flavor kick.
- Honey: Adds just enough sweetness to balance out the sour notes.
- Kosher Salt: Lifts all the other flavors without being too much.
- Black Pepper: Gives a touch of heat and some spicy background notes.
Garden-Fresh Components
- Large Peaches: Bring juicy sweetness and gorgeous color to your bowl.
- Crisp Cucumbers: Add a cool snap and refreshing water content.
- Fresh Herbs: Mix in amazing smells and pretty green flecks.
- Mixed Greens: Make the perfect base with lots of different textures.
- Roasted Almonds: Give you that nice crunch and extra protein boost.
- Crumbled Goat Cheese: Adds a creamy tang that pulls everything together.
Assembly Steps
- Making Your Dressing:
- Put olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a jar. Close the lid tight and shake it hard until it's all mixed up.
- Prepping Your Fresh Stuff:
- Cut peaches and cucumbers into skinny wedges or circles. Pull off herb leaves and chop them up.
- Getting Greens Ready:
- For tough greens like kale, rub them with dressing for 3-5 minutes to make them softer. If using tender greens, just toss them in your serving bowl.
- Putting It All Together:
- Layer your greens, peaches, cucumbers, and herbs. Sprinkle almonds and goat cheese on top. Pour dressing over everything and mix gently before you eat.
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Tasty Pairing Suggestions
Throw on some herb-grilled chicken to make it a full meal, or serve smaller portions as a fancy starter for dinner guests.
Inventive Twist Ideas
Try using pistachios instead of almonds and throw in some red onion for a taste of the Mediterranean. Mix in different stone fruits for extra color.
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This peach goat cheese salad brings together the best summer flavors without much work, making it perfect for any get-together.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What kind of peaches are best for this mix?
- You'll want peaches that are ripe but still firm enough to cut nicely. Yellow peaches usually give you the perfect mix of sweet and tangy that works with the other stuff. White peaches are fine too but they're usually sweeter with less zing. Your peaches should feel a bit soft when you press them gently but not so mushy that they fall apart when you slice them. If your peaches aren't quite ripe yet, stick them in a paper bag at room temp for a day or two to speed things up. In a pinch, nectarines work great too and taste pretty similar.
- → Can I make this ahead for a get-together?
- While this mix tastes best when you put it all together right before eating, you can get lots of stuff ready ahead of time. The dressing stays good for up to two weeks in the fridge. You can chop the nuts and keep them in a sealed container. If you're using kale, you can wash it, chop it, and even mix it with some dressing up to a day ahead (kale won't get soggy like other greens). But wait to cut the peaches and cucumbers until you're almost ready to serve so they don't turn brown or get watery. For the best look and taste, put everything together within an hour of serving, and add the goat cheese and a final splash of dressing right at the end.
- → What can I use instead of goat cheese if I don't like it?
- If goat cheese isn't your thing, don't worry, you've got options. Feta works great and has a similar crumbly feel but isn't quite as tangy. Ricotta salata is a milder, firmer choice you can crumble on top. For something softer, try tearing up some fresh burrata - it's creamy and goes really well with peaches. If you don't do dairy, avocado adds nice creaminess, or you can sprinkle some nutritional yeast for a savory touch. Each swap will change the mix a bit but will still taste great with the sweet peaches and balsamic dressing.
- → Why use unsalted almonds in this recipe?
- We call for unsalted almonds so you can decide how salty your final mix will be. The dressing already has salt, and goat cheese brings its own salty tanginess. If you use salted almonds, your mix might end up too salty and throw off all the flavors. But if unsalted almonds are all you've got, that's fine too—just cut back on salt in the dressing. You can also try plain toasted pecans, walnuts, or pistachios if you want to switch things up. Each nut brings its own flavor but still gives you that nice crunch.
- → What's the difference between white and dark balsamic in this recipe?
- The main thing that sets white and dark balsamic apart in this recipe is how they look and slightly how they taste. White balsamic is lighter in color and usually a bit milder, so the bright colors of your peaches and greens really pop without getting darkened. Regular dark balsamic has a deeper, more caramel-like flavor and will make your dressing brownish, which might slightly color the lighter stuff in your mix. Both taste wonderful here, so pick based on what looks better to you or what you already have. If you go with dark balsamic, you might want to use a touch less honey since it tends to be naturally sweeter.
- → What protein goes well with this mix for a full meal?
- This flexible mix works great with lots of proteins to make it a complete meal. Simple grilled chicken breast with herbs fits in without taking over. If you like seafood, try grilled shrimp or salmon - their gentle flavors work really well with peaches. For vegetarian options, throw in some chickpeas tossed with a bit of the dressing, or have some quinoa on the side. If you're plant-based, grilled tofu or tempeh with a touch of balsamic glaze tastes great too. For fancy dinner parties, seared scallops make this mix feel extra special. Whatever protein you pick, keep the seasoning pretty simple so you can still taste all the nice flavors in the salad.