Description
This Grilled Peach and Arugula Salad combines juicy, smoky grilled peaches with peppery arugula, creamy feta cheese, and crunchy toasted almonds for a refreshing and flavorful summer dish. Finished with a simple balsamic vinaigrette, it’s an easy and elegant salad perfect as a light lunch or side.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 ripe peaches, halved and pitted
- 4 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup toasted almonds
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the grill: Prepare your grill by heating it to medium-high heat, ensuring it’s hot enough to sear the peaches and create beautiful grill marks.
- Brush peaches with oil: Lightly brush the cut sides of the peach halves with olive oil to prevent sticking and help them caramelize on the grill.
- Grill peaches: Place the peach halves cut side down on the grill. Allow them to cook for 4-5 minutes until they develop grill marks and soften slightly, which brings out their natural sweetness.
- Cool and slice peaches: Remove the peaches from the grill and let them cool enough to handle safely. Then, slice the grilled peaches into wedges or bite-sized pieces.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, toss together the fresh arugula, grilled peach slices, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted almonds to build flavor and texture layers.
- Prepare dressing: In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper until emulsified to create a flavorful dressing.
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly without wilting the arugula.
- Serve immediately: Transfer the salad to serving plates or a bowl and enjoy immediately for the best freshness and flavor contrast.
Notes
- Choose ripe but firm peaches to ensure they hold up well on the grill.
- To toast almonds, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly browned, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- You can substitute almonds with pecans or walnuts for a different crunch.
- For a sweeter dressing, add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup to the vinaigrette.
- This salad is best served fresh, as the grilled peaches can lose texture if left too long.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: grilled peach salad, arugula salad, summer salad, grilled fruit salad, feta cheese salad
