Something about Spring and Summer just lends itself to eating a bit lighter. I don't find myself reaching for heavier things, especially for a quick lunch! This Peach Prosciutto salad hits the spot every time. It is a quick fix for lunch or an incredible side dish for a family dinner. Using all of the gorgeous produce of summer and a homemade dijon dressing, this salad is a knock out!
How to make the best salads
I have a couple of rules when making salads...
- Something sweet, something creamy, something crunchy, something tangy, protein, greens. The perfect salad has each of these things!
- Making your own dressing MAKES A DIFFERENCE! It is lower in calories and to me, you can adjust the sweetness/tartness/salt level
- Season your salad. For the love, please salt and pepper your salads! Its a pro tip but I promise you it makes huge difference the the tasty-level (yes that's a thing!)
This peach prosciutto salad has all of these elements and it's one of my best yet!
So for the greens here I used baby arugula. Its peppery and beautiful, not to bold like kale but not bland like spinach. Its a great middle ground green!
My crunch is some dried figs! I know they don't sound particularly crunchy, but the little seeds inside add a perfect texture as well as a bit of sweetness.
As for the sweet, I have fresh peaches. Seriously is there anything better in the summer!? NO!
My creamy element is little mozzarella pearls. They are the perfect portion and just add the perfect amount of creaminess without going over the top. You could also top this with burrata and have a burrata peach prosciutto salad, doesn't that sound amazing!
My protein is some gorgeously folded prosciutto. It adds a nice salt to the whole salad and is a great pair with the peaches. I used Boar's Head and it's really one of my favorites!
Lastly, the tang is a homemade Dijon Dressing and it is so versatile. A really good dressing for an everyday salad that add just the right amount of acid to this superb peach prosciutto Salad. This homemade dijon dressing is a mix of mustard, white wine vinegar, olive oil, and mint! So fresh!
What is burrata? Burrata is similar to mozzarella in it's mild flavor. On the outside it resembles mozzarella but when you cut it open, it is soft mozzarella soaked in heavy cream. Nothing wrong with that!
Peach Prosciutto Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 package Boars Head sliced prosciutto
- 2 peaches, sliced
- 10 dried figs, sliced in half
- 1 package Mozzarella pearls
- 5 cups arugula
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Dijon Dressing
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp dried mint
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Assemble the Salad
- combine the arugula, mozzarella, prosciutto slices, sliced figs, salt and peppper in a large bowl and toss to combine
- Add the sliced peaches on top
Mix the Dressing
- In a small bowl or mason jar combine all ingredients for the dressing and shake or whisk until combined. Pour over the salad and enjoy!