This Peach Avocado Salad is the epitome of summer, featuring crisp peppery arugula, creamy avocado, sweet peaches, and bursts of flavorful basil. Not only is it refreshing and vibrant, but it is also stunning to look at.
This is the salad I craved on a daily basis...all summer long. I first made it when I was swimming in 40+ pounds of peaches as I worked my way through all the peach recipes I was creating on for my pie website. I had ordered a bunch of peaches from The Peach Truck, and although they lasted for quite some time, I eventually had to find ways to use up the ripe juicy fruit before they became too soft.
And that is where this Peach Avocado Salad entered the picture. Much like some of the other salads I crave (like this Cucumber Avocado Salad, or this Couscous Salad), I wanted this to be both light, yet satisfying.
The peppery and earthy arugula helps balances the sweet peaches. The honey champagne vinaigrette adds brightness and brings out the flavor, and the avocado makes it feel decadent but not overly so. There are some thinly sliced red onions, that are briefly marinated in the vinaigrette to soften them, and pieces of whole basil that help bump up the flavor.
The salad is both stunning to look at, and eat. Trust me, you should make this the second you get your hand on some good peaches.
So let's get to making it! You can jump around the article using the menu below, or you can head right to the bottom for the complete recipe.
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Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe. The full recipe with quantities is listed below this text in the recipe card. If substitutions are available for this recipe, they'll be listed here. If you don't see a substitution you are looking for, please leave a comment below.
- peaches (they should be ripe but firm, and most importantly, actually taste good
- avocado (same thing as the peaches above, you want ripe but firm avocados so they hold their shape)
- champagne vinegar (this can be substituted for white wine vinegar or another light vinegar that you like)
- olive oil (use the good stuff, if you've got it)
- honey (this adds a nice balanced sweetness to the vinaigrette)
- red onion (this can be swapped with shallots)
- baby arugula
- basil leaves
Step-By-Step Recipe Overview
This is a quick visual overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. If you are looking for the full recipe, keep scrolling!
Step 1: Vigorously whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Step 2: Add the thinly sliced onions, and let them macerate.
Step 3: Add in the arugula, season it and toss together to coat.
Step 4: Transfer the arugula to a platter, and scatter the peaches and avocados on top.
Kelli's Best Tips
This is a simple salad recipe, but here are a few notes to ensure your salad turns out perfectly!
- Taste the dressing: The salad dressing is made in the bowl that the greens will be tossed in. Before adding the arugula, taste the vinaigrette and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, honey or acid, to your liking.
- Season your greens: The professionals know the key to making a good salad into a great salad is to build the layers of flavor. Even though the vinaigrette is seasoned, don't skip the step of adding a big pinch of salt and pepper directly to the arugula. It's a small step that adds a lot of complexity to the final salad.
- Gently toss + assemble: Another professional tip: handle the greens with care as they are tossed with the dressing. The arugula, peaches and avocado are all quite delicate, and keeping their structural integrity improves the final dish.
Serving It
For best results, handle this salad with care while assembling and serving. Gently mix the arugula in the same bowl used for the dressing, and then place it on a platter. Top the arugula with peaches, avocado, and basil leaves.
For a final finishing touch, sprinkle the salad with another pinch of salt, fresh ground pepper and a small drizzle of good olive oil.
It should be assembled and served immediately.
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Peach Avocado Salad
- Prep Time: 00:10
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Salad
Description
This Peach Avocado Salad is the epitome of summer, featuring crisp peppery arugula, creamy avocado, sweet peaches, and bursts of flavorful basil. Not only is it refreshing and vibrant, but it is also stunning to look at.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- ½ small red onion, sliced thin
- 2 ripe but firm peaches, cleaned, pitted and sliced into 8 wedges
- 1 ripe but firm avocado, pitted and sliced
- 3 cups baby arugula
- Small handful of basil leaves
Instructions
- To a medium bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and vigorously whisk until combined. Add the onion to the dressing and let it macerate for five minutes.
- Add the arugula to the bowl and toss together to combine.
- Transfer the arugula to a large platter.
- Scatter the peaches, avocados and basil leaves on top of the arugula, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a small drizzle of good olive oil.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
This recipe was tested using Diamond Crystal coarse kosher salt. If you use Morton's kosher salt or fine salt decrease by about half for volume, or use the same amount by weight.
The peach can easily be swapped for nectarines.
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