This Peach Blueberry Salad With Oil-Free Balsamic Dressing is the ultimate vegan summer salad! Juicy peaches, sweet blueberries, creamy avocado, and tangy vegan feta are layered over fresh spinach, then topped with crunchy almonds and thinly sliced shallot. Everything gets tossed in a light, oil-free balsamic dressing for the perfect mix of sweet & savory. This healthy vegan salad is ideal for summer lunches, picnics, or served as a fresh side with dinner.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It is packed with fresh summer flavors! Juicy peaches, blueberries, and creamy avocado make this salad bright, refreshing, and perfect for hot days.
- This salad (and salad dressing) is vegan & oil-free! Made without animal products or added oils, it’s a lighter option that still feels satisfying.
- You can easily customize this Peach Blueberry Salad! Swap spinach for arugula, use walnuts instead of almonds, or leave out the vegan feta if desired.
Key Ingredients
- Peaches & blueberries: These summer fruits add natural sweetness, juicy texture, and vibrant color.
- Spinach: A delicious nutrient-rich base that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the fruit and the tang of the dressing!
- Avocado: Adds creamy texture and healthy fats that balance the crisp greens and juicy fruit. It also makes our salad more filing!
- Shallot & almonds: Both of these add a tiny pop of flavor and texture. Shallots give a mildly sweet vibe, while almonds add a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
- Vegan feta: Provides a salty, tangy contrast that ties all the flavors together! It also adds some protein if you use Marinated Tofu Feta.
- Balsamic vinegar: The star of our oil-free dressing! Balsamic is the perfect tangy-sweet flavor to tie all of our summer ingredients together.
How to Make Peach Blueberry Salad
Step 1: Combine all Balsamic Dressing ingredients until evenly mixed.
Step 2: Toss spinach with half the dressing. Add half the salad ingredients, toss just a bit more, then divide into bowls. Add the rest of the toppings and a final drizzle of dressing. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- The easiest way to combine the ingredients for the Oil Free Balsamic Dressing is to add them all to a jar and then shake! I find this quicker and easier than whisking in a bowl, but both are doable.
- I suggest tossing the spinach with half the dressing and adding half the toppings before dividing into bowls. After dividing between bowls, top with the rest of the toppings and dressing. This keeps your salad evenly coated and prevents the heavier ingredients from sinking to the bottom of the larger serving bowl.
Serving Suggestions
- As much as I love this salad, this is not one that keeps well! I suggest making this the day you plan to enjoy it. If you do plan to save some, store each ingredient separately in the fridge and then toss together with dressing when you are ready to enjoy.
- This is a delicious summer lunch! It's perfect for those days when you want to pack in lots of nutritious produce, but don't want to sacrifice flavor.
- This Peach Summer Salad also makes a great side salad at dinner! Since this salad is on the sweeter side, pair it with a savory main like my Chickpea Veggie Burgers or some Lemon Tahini Pasta.
Substitutions & Variations
- Feel free to add extra avocado or vegan feta if you're enjoying this as a main to make it more filling.
- This healthy summer salad is easily customizable. Feel free to swap out the almonds for walnuts, the spinach for arugula, or make any other easy swap you'd like!
Frequently Asked Questions
Peaches are at their peak in the summer! Generally you can find the best peaches between May and September. However if you are making this salad outside of that window, you can use canned peaches if you'd like! Just be sure to drain & rinse them thoroughly to remove any extra juices or sweeteners.
No, traditionally balsamic dressing typically contains olive oil. However, this recipe uses the less-processed tahini to create a creamy balsamic dressing without any added oil!
Yes! This salad is made with whole food, plant-based ingredients and is completely vegan. Just be sure to use the homemade Marinated Vegan Feta, as many store-bought vegan cheeses contain oil and aren’t WFPB-compliant.
Other Peach Recipes You'll Love
📖 Recipe
Peach Blueberry Salad With Oil Free Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- 4-6 cups lightly packed spinach - roughly chopped
- 3 small peaches - sliced
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 small avocado - diced
- 1 small shallot - thinly sliced
- ½ cup Joyful Balance Marinated Tofu Feta - (or another vegan feta of choice)
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
Balsamic Dressing
- 3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1.5 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ¾ teaspoon dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoon tahini
- 1.5 teaspoon nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon water - (plus more as needed)
Instructions
- Make the Balsamic Dressing by combining all Balsamic Dressing ingredients in a small bowl or jar. If using a bowl, whisk to combine. If using a jar, close the jar with a lid and shake to combine.
- Assemble your salads: In a large serving bowl, toss the spinach with about half of the Balsamic Dressing to evenly coat the greens.For a visually appealing presentation, top the spinach with half of the remaining ingredients (peaches, blueberries, avocado, shallot, almonds, and feta). Leave this way or very gently toss once again. When ready to serve, portion into individual bowls and top each serving with the remaining ingredients and an extra drizzle of dressing.If presentation of the large salad bowl isn’t a priority, simply divide the dressed spinach among individual bowls, then evenly distribute the remaining toppings over each serving. Finish with an extra drizzle of dressing and enjoy!
Happy cooking! If you made this recipe don’t forget to tag me (@joyfulbalanceofficial) on facebook or instagram so I can cheer you on for your salad-making ways.
Stay joyfully balanced!
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