Summer Salad with Peaches and Blackberries
Summer Salad with Peaches and Blackberries is a bright, easy salad featuring juicy peaches, tart blackberries, crisp greens, and crunchy candied pecans with a light tarragon vinaigrette. This refreshing salad is ideal for easy weeknight dinners or casual summer entertaining, offering a lovely balance of textures and fresh flavors that make it a must try this season.
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- Small Bowl
- Whisk
- Knife
Ingredients
- 8 cups butter lettuce Torn into bite-sized pieces and used as the salad base, provides a tender, mild leafy texture that soaks up dressing while keeping the dish light and refreshing. Adds volume and a neutral backdrop that lets brighter ingredients shine without overpowering flavors. Helps create a soft mouthfeel that contrasts with crunchy and juicy components.
- 1 cup radicchio Shredded or roughly chopped and used sparingly to introduce a slightly bitter, crisp contrast that balances sweeter notes from fruit and candied nuts. Offers visual interest with its deep color and adds structure to each forkful, contributing subtle tannic flavors. Works well tossed with lettuce to create balance across the salad.
- 3 peaches, pitted and skins removed if desired Sliced or chopped into wedges to contribute juicy, fragrant sweetness and a tender, slightly tart bite that complements berries and cheese. Supplies seasonal aroma and soft texture that pairs beautifully with tangy dressing and creamy feta. Can be peeled if desired for a smoother mouthfeel and neater presentation.
- 1 pint blackberries Rinsed and left whole or halved to provide bursts of juicy, sweet-tart flavor and a plump, juicy texture that contrasts with leaves and nuts. Supplies vibrant color and natural sweetness that enhances the summer fruit theme while adding small pockets of acidity. Complements creamy and savory elements by adding fresh fruity brightness.
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced Thinly sliced to impart a mild sharpness and crunchy snap that cuts through sweet and creamy components in the salad. Contributes a subtle pungency and aromatic bite that helps balance richness from cheese and nuts. Adds slender ribbons of color and texture for balanced flavor distribution.
- 1/4 cup candied pecans, roughly chopped Roughly chopped and sprinkled to deliver sweet, caramelized crunch and a toasted nuttiness that contrasts with tender greens and juicy fruit. Provides textural interest and a rich flavor counterpoint that elevates simple ingredients into a more complex bite. Acts as a flavorful garnish that adds both crunch and indulgence.
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled Crumpled over the top to introduce a salty, tangy creaminess that enhances fruit and greens while adding savory depth. Supplies a crumbly texture and briny note that balances sweetness and bright dressing. Works in small amounts to add richness without overwhelming lighter flavors.
- cup extra virgin olive oil Measured to create a smooth, rich dressing base that binds vinaigrette elements and lends fruity, peppery notes to the salad. Provides mouth-coating texture and healthy fats that carry aromatics and seasonings across the other components. Emulsifies with mustard and vinegar to produce a cohesive dressing.
- 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar Measured to contribute a mild, slightly sweet acidity that brightens flavors and helps balance the oil in the vinaigrette. Adds a clean tang that lifts fruit and softens richness from feta and candied pecans. Helps create a lively, well-balanced dressing when combined with oil and mustard.
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar Measured to add a touch of sweetness that rounds out the vinegar's acidity and complements ripe fruit without making the salad sugary. Helps mellow sharp notes and ties flavors together by enhancing fruitiness and balancing savory elements. Dissolves easily into the dressing to create smooth flavor.
- 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon leaves, chopped Chopped and incorporated into the dressing to impart a fresh, anise-like herbal aroma and delicate savory notes that pair well with stone fruit. Adds a nuanced herbal dimension that elevates the salad from simple to sophisticated, complementing both cheese and fruit. Should be used fresh for the brightest flavor impact.
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Measured and whisked into the dressing to help emulsify and add a subtle tang that stabilizes the vinaigrette while contributing savory depth. Acts as a binder between oil and vinegar and enhances the overall flavor complexity with a gentle, sharp note. Use in small quantity to avoid overpowering delicate ingredients.
- teaspoon kosher salt Measured to season the salad subtly and enhance all other flavors without becoming overtly salty; adjusted to taste for balance. Helps bring out the sweetness of peaches and blackberries while grounding the dressing and salad components. Best added gradually and tasted to reach the desired seasoning level.
- teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Ground and added sparingly to provide a warm, slightly biting heat and aromatic complexity that accentuates sweet and savory elements. Enhances depth and interest in each bite while complementing salt and herbs in the dressing. Should be freshly ground for best flavor and distributed evenly throughout the salad.
Instructions
- Combine the lettuces. Roughly tear 8 cups butter lettuce leaves and 1 cup radicchio leaves and toss in a large bowl.: The bowl should smell fresh and green, with soft earthy notes from the butter lettuce and a slightly peppery edge from the radicchio . Tear the leaves gently by hand to preserve their texture and place them in a large, roomy bowl so they do not bruise. Toss them lightly with your fingers, watching for any brown or slimy pieces and removing them. The technique of tearing rather than slicing helps the dressing cling evenly and prevents water loss from damaged cell walls. A common error is over packing the bowl which causes crushing, so use a large bowl and give the leaves space to move.
- Add the toppings. Cut 3 peaches into slices and add to the lettuces with 1 pint blackberries. Add 1/4 red onion slices, 1/4 cup candied pecans, and 1/4 cup feta cheese.: When you add the sliced peaches and whole blackberries , you will notice a burst of sweet fruit aroma, and the bowl will start to look jewel like. Arrange the fruit gently on top of the greens so juices do not immediately soak into the lettuce. Scatter the thinly sliced red onion , the chopped candied pecans , and the crumbled feta cheese evenly so each section of the salad has balance. This arrangement ensures contrasting textures and flavors in each forkful. One mistake to avoid is chopping fruit too small; larger slices keep their character and look more appealing.
- Mix the vinaigrette and dress the salad. In a small bowl, whisk ? cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon leaves, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, plus ? teaspoon each kosher salt and black pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad, toss, and taste for seasoning. Add more feta cheese as desired.: As you whisk the vinaigrette, you will see the extra virgin olive oil gloss and the seasoned rice vinegar lighten, with tiny flecks of tarragon and Dijon mustard suspending in the mixture. Whisk until the dressing looks slightly emulsified and smells bright and herby. Pour the dressing over the salad in a steady stream, then toss gently with a couple of large spoons to coat, watching for the visual cue that leaves go from matte to glossy. Taste a small amount and adjust seasoning with kosher salt and black pepper if needed. If the dressing separates, a quick additional whisk will bring it back together. Avoid dumping all the dressing at once, because the salad can become soggy.
Notes
- Room temperature fruit: Allow peaches to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes if they are slightly cool from the fridge, because the aroma and flavor develop and the flesh sweetens; cold fruit can mute the brightness of the salad.
- Dry the berries well: After rinsing the blackberries, pat them gently with paper towels and let them air dry on a clean towel to avoid introducing extra moisture that can waterlog the greens.
- Reserve some nuts: Hold back a small handful of the candied pecans to sprinkle on top just before serving so you preserve maximum crunch and visual appeal.
- Adjust dressing ratio: Start with less than the listed amount of extra virgin olive oil in the vinaigrette and add more as needed, because fruit sweetness varies and you may need less oil on sweeter fruit.
- Chill the plates: If serving this on a hot day, chill your serving plates for a few minutes; a cool plate helps the salad stay refreshing longer when served.