Peach Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts & Blue Cheese.
This peach arugula salad is the perfect summer dish! Candied walnuts, blue cheese and peppery arugula come together with juicy fresh peaches to bring a savory sweet twist to a simple yet incredibly satisfying salad. Delish!
Summer salad time!
As if I needed another one! This peach arugula salad is my dream salad for this year – with peppery arugula, juicy peaches, crunchy candied walnuts, tangy blue cheese and a balsamic that you will absolutely fall in love with.
Peach season for the win!
You know what a salad freak I am, and creating new seasonal salads is one of my favorite things to do. I have tons of ideas and never come up short of new ingredients to add to create fabulous combos – salads that we all actually want to eat! I first shared this on my substack a few weeks ago and so many of you have already made it, with rave reviews.
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So I’m not even exaggerating when I say that this is probably in the top five salads I’ve made and it’s simple. Delicious. Crunchy.
Easy.
This is one of those salads that can be a showstopper at a BBQ, a nice little starter for a dinner party or even your own salad for dinner tonight. It is complete as is or you can add more protein to it! Whatever you like – it will work on this beauty.
The combo is incredible because it’s sweet, tart, creamy, peppery and crunchy. Everything I want and love in a meal. These qualities make the salad so incredibly satisfying and enjoyable.
And it comes together so super fast.
The first thing I do is make the walnuts so they are finished and ready to go. I take walnuts and throw them in a skillet with some sugar, letting it melt until the walnuts get toasty and caramelized. Then, I let them cool on some parchment! Once cool, the nuts can be chopped or kept whole.
Next, I made the balsamic dressing. This is my favorite balsamic because it’s a vinaigrette but slightly thick at the same time. Don’t leave the sugar out! It makes all the difference.
The rest is so simple. I always toss the arugula with salt and pepper and a little dressing. Then everything goes on top!
Peaches.
Walnuts.
Blue cheese!!
The blue cheese is so creamy and tangy and wonderful. Love it so much.
Give it another heavy drizzle of dressing and serve it. You have the perfect summer salad!
I could eat this every single day of my life.
Peach Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts & Blue Cheese
Peach Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts & Blue Cheese
Ingredients
best balsamic
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- kosher salt and pepper
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- To candy the walnuts, place the walnuts, a pinch of salt and the sugar in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Stir to mix. Cook, stirring often, until the sugar melts and fully coats the walnuts, then becomes sticky and fragrant, about 4 to 5 minutes. Place the walnuts on a piece of parchment paper to cool. Once cool, coarsely chop them.
- Toss the arugula with salt and pepper. Add a drizzle of dressing. Top with the peaches, blue cheese and walnuts. Drizzle with more dressing and serve!
best balsamic
- Whisk together the garlic, vinegar, sugar, mustard, oregano and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil until the mixture is thickened and emulsified.
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