Light and healthy summer fruit salad served with a ripe peach dressing that is ready in five minutes or less!
The vibrant colors of summer fruits and vegetables always get me inspired to eat healthy and lighter, how about you? Making more wholesome meals is easy. I’m like a kid in a candy store when I see stone fruit appear. Peaches, nectarines, plums, they are all there and calling out to you, “eat me!”.
Juicy peaches are my favorite, and I wanted to infuse even more of its flavor into a refreshing salad, not only slices on top. Then it hit me. Peach salad dressing! This recipe is super simple to make, so much so that this summer fruit salad will be your warm-weather go-to meal. Grab your blender and let’s go!
When summer fruit is in season, you don’t need much else to make your dish extraordinary. A little creativity in the kitchen and your guests will be begging for more. I used my blender to make a quick less than 5-minute dressing. Ripe peaches, lemon juice, olive oil and a few sweeteners like honey or maple syrup if desired. If the peach is at its peak, you won’t need the extra natural sweetness.
The last ingredient to take this dressing to the next level is poppy seeds. These tiny seeds provide a little bit of nutty almond-like flavor and mini crunch, transforming the dressing from good to irresistible!
Go ahead and drizzle as much of this healthy peach poppy seed dressing as you want. Each bite of this fresh salad is packed with sweet strawberries, peaches, blueberries, pecans for crunch and a little bit of creamy goat cheese.
You can top the salad with some chicken or grilled salmon if you need a bit more of a substantial meal. I serve this salad with added protein on those long hot summer nights, and it hits the spot!
How do you pick the perfect ripe Peach?
If you have access to a local Farmer’s market, you can typically find the ripest, flavorful and myriad varieties of peaches. If not that’s okay! When picking peaches at the grocery store look for color first. Seek out vibrant colors and tones, and avoid green tones (peaches were probably not picked at its peak). Now grab that peach and give the shoulder and tip (near the stem) a gentle press with your fingertips. If it starts to give, it’s most likely sweet and juicy. Avoid those super soft or hard like a rock peaches if you are going to eat them right away. Store them stem side down at room temperature on your countertop and refrigerate if not eating right away if ripe. Wrinkly skinned peaches are most likely dry and not as yummy. (Source: The Kitchn)
Summer Fruit Salad with Peach Dressing
Ingredients
Peach Salad Dressing
- 1 cup yellow peach, ripe, sliced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice, plus zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey, agave nectar or maple syrup (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons poppy seeds
Fruit Salad
- 5 ounces spring mix salad, or your choice of greens, (about 10 lightly packed cups)
- 1 peach, sliced into wedges
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup pecans
- 2 tablespoons goat cheese
Instructions
Peach Salad Dressing
- Add 1 cup sliced peaches, lemon juice, zest and water to your blender. Blend until smooth puree forms, about 30 seconds.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while the blender is running, mix for 30 seconds.
- Taste the dressing and add sweetener if desired, mix 15 seconds. Add poppy seeds and blend for 10 seconds just to mix in the seeds. Set aside.
Fruit Salad
- In a large bowl add salad greens.
- Top with peaches, strawberries, blueberries, pecans, and goat cheese. Serve with peach salad dressing on the side. If you're mixing the salad before serving, you may not need all of the dressing. Add the desired amount to coat the greens.
Equipment
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Pam says
This was delicious. I don’t eat goat or sheep cheese so used Champagne cheese cut up in small cubes. I also used shrimp as I made it a meal. I made a plate up for the lady who lives across the hall from me, and she wanted to know what restaurant I ordered it from because she wants to order it again. Thank you for this recipe – it’s not a combo I would have thought of making.
Jessica Gavin says
Wow, Pam! I love that you made the fruit salad gourmet with champagne cheese and shrimp. Sounds divine!
Ellie DePastino says
I made this for my office potluck and heard nothing but good things about it – and it was so easy to make, too! My local grocer was out of blueberries so I subbed blackberries, still delicious 😀
Shaneka Jones says
We loved the salad Jessica! For the dressing, do you have a substitute for the poppy seeds? Will be making the salad all the time during this hot summer! 🙂
Kristen Rieker says
This salad was delicious! Added some shredded chicken and swapped the goat cheese for feta and it was a big hit!
Deborah Guy says
How far in advance can I make the poppy seed with peaches dressing?
Jessica Gavin says
You can make the dressing 1 to 2 days ahead of time. Just make sure to shake or whisk before adding to the salad.
Leticia Sanchez says
I do not like goat cheese at all. Can you recommend a different cheese?
Jessica Gavin says
Do you like feta or blue cheeses like gorgonzola?
Shirley says
I served this at a luncheon! It got rave reviews. I added blackberries and grapes as well. The dressing is light and delicious even without the poppy seeds…a guest was unable to eat seeds so I omitted them. I mixed spring mix and romaine as well. You cannot go wrong with this salad. The goat cheese was perfect! It is a tasty and beautiful salad.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you Shirley! I love your suggestions for blackberries and grapes, and that the dressing tasted great even without the poppy seeds.
Judy says
I made the Peach Poppy Seed Dressing today. We had it on a simple salad of lettuce and strawberries. My husband and I both think it is wonderful. I especially like that the quantity is small as I like to try different dressings and you have more recipes for me to draw from.
Jessica Gavin says
That sounds so yummy and refreshing Judy! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the dressing 🙂
Judy says
Hi Jessica,
We are having a try a new recipe challenge on FITera this week. I’m going to use this recipe and share your site Jessica. I think you will see a lot of activity from that too.
I will come back and rate the recipe afterwards. I am sure it is a 5.
By the way do you have a healthy eggplant parmesean recipe? I was looking last night on my iPad and didn’t see one but I will look again.
Have another great day in sunny Cali.
Judy
Jessica Gavin says
Yay! I’m so excited that you will try the recipe with FITera 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what you think! I don’t have a healthy eggplant parmesan recipe but I think it’s a great idea for the future!
Brittany | Words Like Honeycomb says
Wow! this looks AMAZING…and I am definitely going to try your peach poppy seed dressing <3
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you SO much Brittany! This has been my favorite simple summer dressing, I’m sure you will love it 🙂
Judy Caywood says
Wow what a knockout salad Jessica.!
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you so much Judy!
Surati says
I make the most wonderful honey poppy seed dressing, but I love what you’ve done here with the peachs, going to try this. And the salad looks right up my alley, love all the fruit combined with the greens. Was looking for a new & really fantastic flavorful salad, because I eat salad everyday. Thx
Jessica Gavin says
I know you will love this recipe, I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Surati Ivey says
I made this salad and brought it to a special Japanese dinner made by my friend Naoko, at her house. She served all Japanese food ,beautiful, perfectly cooked , simple. And we had your salad, it was a perfect accompaniment to her meal. It was actually fantastic, It got lots of compliments. I forgot to bring the goat cheese, but we didn’t miss it. The peach dressing is such a fresh take on salad dressings, little oil, nice acid hit. Used about 3 times as much poppy seeds, because we like them.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you for your feedback! I love extra poppyseeds, gives it more crunch.