Perfect for the end of summer, this nectarine & prosciutto salad is simple, sweet, salty, and ready in just 10 minutes!
Originally, I was going to make peach and prosciutto salad. Which sounds so much better! Hello- alliteration. And then I didn’t. Best laid plans.
I even bought peaches…but, I also picked up a few nectarines. In the end, the nectarines looked better; however, this recipe would also work beautifully with peaches.
Growing up, I really only remember eating peaches out of a can. Perhaps it was the fuzz factor, but I don’t think we had fresh ones lying around the house. I do know my grandmother would buy them, but I’m not even sure what she did with them. I don’t recall peach cobbler, pancakes, or salsa. And we definitely NEVER had fresh nectarines. Now, I will happily drive to an orchard and pick my own, which is a lot more fun!
And the great thing about nectarines and peaches- they can be used in a large variety of dishes! Savory or sweet. Cake, pie, cobbler, bruschetta, salad, soup, salsa…the list goes on! Plus, they can be enjoyed au naturel in a number of ways. Grilled, poached, smoked, baked, or just picked from a tree.
To bring some saltiness to the salad, I added thinly sliced and rolled prosciutto, but bacon or ham would also work nicely! Then, it’s walnuts for crunchiness, cheese, which makes everything better, and a light citrus dressing to bring all the flavors together.
Ingredients for Nectarine & Prosciutto Salad
Baby Spinach
Nectarines
Slices of Prosciutto
Wedge of Parmesan Cheese
Walnuts
What other flavors would work well in a peach or nectarine salad??
Let’s see…red onions, cucumbers, corn, basil, avocado, chicken, goat cheese, feta, mozzarella, queso fresco, almonds, pumpkin seeds, pecans… For a dressing, think light and slightly sweet. Citrus, balsamic vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, or a honey-based dressing would work well!
When is the best time to pick nectarines?
Nectarine season runs from late April through the end of August. When fully ripe, they only last for a few days, so eat immediately.
10 minutes
Nectarine & Prosciutto Salad
Ingredients
- 5 - 6 oz. baby spinach
- 1 nectarine, sliced
- 4 slices of prosciutto
- 1/4 c. walnuts, chopped
- Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated
Citrus Dressing
- 4 Tbsp. orange juice
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. oil
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk or shake the orange juice, oil, and lime juice.
- In two large bowls, layer the spinach, nectarines, prosciutto, walnuts, and cheese. Top with the citrus dressing.