Spinach Salad with Peaches and Pecans – A Fresh, Healthy Summer Salad with Sweet Peaches, Crunchy Pecans, and Honey Poppy Seed Dressing
Spinach Salad with Peaches and Pecans features tender baby spinach, juicy peaches, toasted pecans, creamy cheese, and a homemade honey poppy seed dressing. Sweet peaches beautifully complement the earthy spinach, while crunchy pecans provide rich texture and flavor. The creamy cheese adds a tangy contrast, and the light dressing enhances every ingredient without overpowering it. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats, this colorful salad is both nutritious and satisfying. Quick to prepare and naturally elegant, it is perfect for lunches, dinners, picnics, or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach
- 3 ripe peaches, sliced
- ½ cup toasted pecans
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese
- ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup cucumber, sliced
- ¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil or mint leaves, chopped
For the Honey Poppy Seed Dressing
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Wash and thoroughly dry the baby spinach.
- Wash and slice the peaches into thin wedges.
- Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Let them cool.
- Thinly slice the red onion and cucumber.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
- Place the spinach in a large serving bowl and top with peaches, cucumber, onion, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and fresh herbs.
- Sprinkle the crumbled feta or goat cheese over the salad.
- Drizzle with the honey poppy seed dressing just before serving and toss gently to combine.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm peaches for the best texture.
- Baby spinach offers the most tender leaves.
- Toasting the pecans enhances their flavor.
- Fresh peaches provide natural sweetness.
- Add the dressing just before serving to keep the spinach crisp.
- Goat cheese creates a creamier flavor than feta.
- Homemade dressing tastes fresher than bottled varieties.
- Chill the salad ingredients before assembling for maximum freshness.