Treat yourself to this scrumptious Nectarine Salad! Each bite of this tempting green salad is loaded with juicy fruit, tangy feta cheese, crunchy nuts, and peppery arugula. It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors, plus it's sooo easy to make!
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Nectarines are one of my go-to summer fruits. When you get a good one, they're just so fragrant, juicy, and sweet!
While I definitely enjoy eating nectarines sliced or straight from the hand, I thought it would be fun to create a few easy recipes featuring this yummy stone fruit. And this Nectarine Salad has become a new favorite!
You are going to fall in love with this easy summer salad! It features juicy nectarine slices paired with tangy feta, crunchy walnuts, bright arugula, and the most amazing lemon honey dressing (that takes less than five minutes to make). Basically, the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors, plus tender and crunchy textures. Yum!
This green salad is just as perfect for lazy weeknight dinners as it is for dinner parties and BBQs. Best all though, it's so simple to make. Because who wants to spend their summer in the kitchen?
Ready to get started? Then keep scrolling for all the details!
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Ingredients
This recipe is made with simple, healthy ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Nectarines - The star of the show, and because of this, you want to select the freshest, most flavorful nectarines that you can find. Look for fruit that's fragrant and ripe (they should have a little give when you squeeze them), but not overly soft (they'll be mushy and too hard the cut).
- Arugula - Peppery arugula contrasts perfectly with the sweet fruit, adding a delicious balance that keeps the salad from becoming too sweet.
- Feta - Briny, salty feta cheese pairs so well with this fragrant stone fruit! I like to start with a block of feta and crumble it myself, but you can definitely purchase crumbles if you prefer.
- Nuts - Chopped nuts taste great and add a much needed crunchy texture. I used walnuts, but pecans, almonds, and other nuts would also work well.
- Basil - A handful of fresh basil adds such a lovely fresh taste to this summery recipe.
- Dressing - My mouthwatering Honey Lemon Salad Dressing recipe pulls all the flavors together! This flavor-packed vinaigrette uses minimal ingredients and takes minutes to make, so don't skip it.
This tasty recipe is naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, and it can easily be customized for other diets and other ingredients, too. Check out the Variations section below for helpful tips and ideas!
You'll Also Need
You'll need a small frying pan to toast the nuts (this Calphalon set is my fave!), a cutting board, and a small bowl or jar to make the dressing (mason jars work great for this). You'll also want to grab your largest bowl to toss the ingredients together.
How to Make Nectarine Salad
This green salad with nectarines, arugula, and feta is a snap to prepare! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Toast nuts. Begin by cooking the walnuts in a dry skillet until they're lightly browned and have a nice toasty scent. Transfer the toasted nuts to your cutting board. Let the nuts cool while you prep the other ingredients, then chop them. Tip: Watch the nuts closely as they toast, stirring them often, to avoid burning.
- Make salad dressing. Next, you'll make the simple vinaigrette dressing by combining lemon, honey, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar. Whisk or shake these ingredients together just until they're combined and the dressing looks thick and creamy.
- Dress greens. Once the dressing is ready, you'll toss a little bit with the arugula ... just enough to coat the greens. Tip: You will have leftover vinaigrette. You don't want to drench the arugula with dressing though (the salad with wile), so save it for another salad later in the week.
- Add nut, feta, and basil. Next, you'll carefully blend in the feta, walnuts, and fresh basil. Tip: After you've added these ingredients, make sure to taste the salad, then add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Mix in fruit. The final step is adding the nectarines. You want to be very gentle as you mix them in, to avoid bruising the fruit.
Alrighty, time to enjoy your beautiful and scrumptious Nectarine Salad! Wasn't that easy to make? I predict this recipe is going to be on repeat all summer long!
Variations
This mouthwatering Nectarine Arugula Salad is fun and easy to customize! Here are some delicious ideas to try:
- Greens - Not an arugula fan? No worries, this salad can be with other greens, too. Try using a spring mix, butter lettuce, baby kale, green lettuce, or romaine. Massaged kale would also work and would make a heartier salad, too.
- Cheese - Swap out the feta for goat cheese, gorgonzola, or grilled (or fried) halloumi for a different, but still delicious, flavor.
- Dressing - While the sweet-tangy flavor of honey lemon dressing works perfectly here, you can certainly make this recipe with other vinaigrettes. My homemade Maple Salad Dressing is a wonderful option, but my Red Wine Vinaigrette and Lemon Salad Dressing would be also tasty. Store bought dressing would also work in a pinch. Choose one that's tangy and lightly sweetened for similar results.
- Nuts - I used walnuts for this recipe, but other nuts (such as pecans, almonds, or pistachios) can be substituted. You could also leave out the nuts if you don't have any or if you have an allergy.
- Vegan - To make this salad vegan, use vegan feta cheese or skip the cheese altogether. You'll also want to either use a different dressing (try this maple dressing or this plain lemon dressing), or you could substitute maple syrup (or your fave sweetener) for the honey.
- Stone Fruit - Other stone fruits, such as peaches, apricots, or plums, would also taste great in this salad. Substitute them for the nectarines or use a fruit combo.
Serving Suggestions
This easy, no cook recipe makes an excellent side salad, or you can add some protein (try roasted chickpeas or baked tofu) for a light meal you'll crave on a hot day. It pairs perfectly with almost any summer recipe, too! Try serving it alongside this Tomato Galette, Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Caprese Pizza (or Grilled Pizza), Kale Pesto Pasta, Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers (Instant Pot), or this Zucchini Couscous Casserole.
Storage
Because of the tender greens and fruit, this Nectarine Feta Salad does not store well. If you're serving it for a party though (or just want to save time at dinner), toast the nuts, make the dressing, and crumble the cheese in advance. Then when it's time to eat, just toss everything together and serve.
Related Recipes
If you loved this recipe, make sure to try this Nectarine Crumble! If you're an arugula fan, you'll also like this Arugula Quinoa Salad. Looking for more summery salads? Try one of these irresistible recipes, too:
- Burrata Caprese Salad
- Garden Salad
- Watermelon, Feta, and Mint Salad
- Grilled Halloumi Salad
- Watermelon Quinoa Salad
- Kale Superfood Salad
- Tomato Onion Salad
You can check out all my salad recipes for even more inspiration!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To cut nectarines for salad, insert your knife into the stem end, pressing down until the blade meets the pit. Then continue cutting all the way around the fruit, eventually ending up back where you started. Grab the nectarine with both hands, then gently twist until one half releases from the pit. Remove the pit, then slice the fruit. If your nectarines clings to their pit, make another cut all the way around the fruit (sectioning it into quarters). Then insert the tip of your knife (a small paring knife is ideal for this) into one of the sections and carefully carve around the pit, releasing the fruit. Repeat with the other three sections, then slice.
Peaches and nectarines are related, but different fruits. They're almost genetically identical (that's why their flavor is similar), except for the fact that peaches have fuzzy skin and nectarines have smooth skin. Nectarines are often smaller than peaches, and they're typically juicier and tangier. You can use these two stone fruits interchangeably is most recipes. Learn more about the differences between nectarines and peaches.
Nectarines are a great source of vitamins B3 and C, minerals like copper and potassium, fiber, and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and anthocyanins. They're also low in calories and fat, making them a great choice for a healthy snack or dessert. Learn more about the health benefits of eating nectarines.
Nectarine Salad
Ingredients
For Nuts:
- ⅓ cup walnut halves (or other nuts, such as pecans, almonds, or pistachios)
For Salad Dressing:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon pepper (freshly cracked)
For Salad:
- 4 cups lightly packed arugula (about 4 ounces / 114 grams)
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- small handful fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
- 2 nectarines, sliced
Equipment
- Large Bowl
Instructions
Prepare Nuts:
- Place walnuts in a small frying pan over medium heat. Cook until lightly browned and toasty smelling, watching closely and stirring often to avoid burning.
- Transfer nuts to a cutting board. Let cool slightly, then chop. Set aside.
Prepare Dressing
- Add olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper to a small jar with lid (or bowl).
- Cover jar and shake vigorously just until ingredients are combined and dressing looks thick and creamy (or whisk together if using a bowl).
Assemble Salad:
- Place arugula in a large bowl, then toss with ¼ cup salad dressing. (Reserve remaining dressing for another use.)
- Mix in walnuts, feta, and basil leaves. Then taste salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, and / or dressing, if needed.
- Gently mix in nectarines.
- Serve salad immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
