Refreshing Summer Spinach Salad with Peaches, Gorgonzola & Almonds: Your New Favorite Recipe
Welcome the vibrant flavors of summer to your table with this absolutely delightful Spinach Salad featuring sweet, juicy peaches, tangy Gorgonzola, and crunchy almonds. This isn’t just a salad; it’s a celebration of seasonal produce and a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that will undoubtedly become one of your favorite summer recipes!
As July draws to a close, there’s always a bittersweet feeling in the air. While the official end of summer is still weeks away, the subtle hints of back-to-school preparations often make it feel like the season is winding down prematurely. Yet, before we dive into the autumn coziness, there’s still so much to savor, especially when it comes to nature’s bounty. Each season offers its unique charm, but for me, summer truly shines with its incredible array of fresh produce. From crisp vegetables to luscious fruits, the options are endless and endlessly inspiring. Currently, I’m completely captivated by peaches, and my family and I have been indulging in their sweet, sun-kissed flavor daily. There’s nothing quite like a perfectly ripe summer peach.
Discovering the Perfect Peach Salad Combination
If you’ve never considered adding peaches to your salad, prepare to be amazed. Several years ago, I first experimented with this Spinach Salad featuring Peaches, Gorgonzola, and Almonds, and it quickly became a highly anticipated seasonal staple. Each summer, as peaches begin to appear in the produce section, I eagerly look forward to recreating this vibrant dish. When selecting peaches for this salad, I prefer those that are still a bit firm. I bring them home and let them ripen on the countertop for a day or two, allowing their sweetness to fully develop. If an immediate peach craving strikes, look for fruit that yields slightly to a gentle press around the stem area. That’s your sign it’s perfectly ripe and ready to enjoy.
Tips for Perfect Peaches
- Smell Test: A ripe peach will have a fragrant, sweet aroma.
- Color Check: Look for a vibrant yellow or orange hue. Avoid green areas, which indicate immaturity. A red blush is common but not always an indicator of ripeness, as it’s often due to the peach variety.
- Gentle Squeeze: As mentioned, a slight give around the stem signifies ripeness. Don’t press too hard, or you’ll bruise the fruit.
- Storage: Store firm peaches at room temperature. Once ripe, move them to the refrigerator to extend their freshness for a few days.
(I originally posted this Spinach Salad with Peaches recipe in September 2012. The image above is the original photo I snapped with my iPhone! I recently updated the photos for this post to share again, but I always like to keep my original photos when I can, a little trip down memory lane!)
The Art of a Balanced Salad: Why These Ingredients Work
This salad isn’t just a random collection of ingredients; it’s a carefully balanced symphony of flavors and textures. Each component plays a crucial role in creating a truly unforgettable experience for your palate.
Sweetness from Peaches
The star of the show, fresh peaches, brings a natural sweetness and juicy tenderness that perfectly embodies summer. Their delicate flavor is a wonderful contrast to the more assertive elements in the salad.
Tangy Kick from Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola cheese is the perfect counterpoint to the peaches. Its creamy texture and distinctive pungent, salty, and slightly sweet flavor profile elevate the salad from good to extraordinary. The sharpness of the cheese cuts through the sweetness of the fruit, creating a dynamic flavor pairing. If Gorgonzola isn’t your preference, don’t worry! Feta cheese offers a briny, salty alternative, while goat cheese provides a milder, creamy tang. Blue cheese is also an excellent substitute if you enjoy similar strong flavors.
Crunch and Nutty Goodness from Almonds
Texture is key in a great salad, and sliced almonds deliver beautifully. They add a satisfying crunch and a subtle, earthy nuttiness that complements both the fruit and the cheese. To enhance their flavor, consider lightly toasting the almonds in a dry pan for a few minutes until fragrant. You can also experiment with other nuts like pecans or walnuts for a different twist.
Freshness from Baby Spinach
The foundation of this salad is fresh baby spinach. Its mild, slightly earthy flavor and tender leaves provide an ideal backdrop for the more robust ingredients. Plus, spinach is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins and minerals, making this salad as healthy as it is delicious. If you want to add a bit of a peppery kick, a mix of arugula with spinach works wonderfully too.
The Perfect Drizzle: Poppyseed Dressing
To tie everything together, a good poppyseed dressing is essential. Its sweet, tangy, and slightly creamy profile complements the salad’s ingredients without overpowering them. It adds that final touch of moisture and flavor that brings all the elements into perfect harmony. While store-bought options like Brianna’s Rich Poppy Seed Dressing are convenient and delicious, you can also whip up a simple homemade version with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, a touch of honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and, of course, poppy seeds.
Embracing Mindful Eating: MyFitnessPal and Sustainable Habits
I know I’ve mentioned before my journey this year focusing on weight loss and improving my body composition. A significant part of my success has come from diligently tracking my food intake using MyFitnessPal (feel free to connect with me there, my username is aggiegoodman!). Tracking has evolved into a daily habit, providing invaluable insights into my eating patterns and nutrient intake. One of the most helpful features on MFP has been the “save meals” option, especially for dishes I eat frequently.
This feature makes logging food incredibly efficient. Instead of inputting each ingredient every time, I can simply add a pre-saved meal with a quick tap. This not only saves time but also provides instant nutrition information, which has been instrumental in allowing me to share accurate nutritional data for the recipes I post here. To save a meal within the app, simply click on the three dots in the meal section, and “Save Meal” will appear as an option.
When I’m actively tracking, this discipline makes a significant difference. I take the time to measure ingredients that are more calorie-dense, such as the almonds, Gorgonzola, and dressing in a salad like this. These ingredients, while delicious and nutritious, can quickly add up in calories if not portioned mindfully. For anyone trying to manage their weight, precise measurements for these components are crucial. Conversely, I don’t typically fuss over exact measurements for fruits and vegetables, as they are naturally lower in calories and packed with beneficial nutrients.
This mindful approach doesn’t just apply to weight loss; it fosters a greater awareness of what you’re fueling your body with. It teaches you about portion control and helps you understand the nutritional value of different foods, contributing to more sustainable healthy eating habits in the long run. This peach salad, with its wholesome ingredients, is an excellent example of a delicious meal that fits well into a balanced diet, offering fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
I truly hope you give this Spinach Salad with Peaches, Gorgonzola, and Almonds a try! If you’re a fan of salads that incorporate fruit – much like my popular Spinach, Strawberry, and Walnut Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette – then I’m confident you’ll adore this one too.
More Seasonal Peach Recipes to Explore
Peaches are incredibly versatile, and their seasonal arrival opens up a world of culinary possibilities. Beyond this delightful salad, here are some other fantastic ways to enjoy the sweet flavor of summer peaches:
- Peach-Berry Juice: A refreshing and vibrant blend of peaches and your favorite berries, perfect for a sunny morning or a revitalizing pick-me-up.
- Honey Almond Ricotta Spread with Peaches: A light and elegant snack or dessert, combining creamy ricotta with the sweetness of honey and peaches, and a hint of almond.
- Fresh Peach Salsa with Grilled Chicken: From Kroll’s Korner, this recipe offers a delightful sweet and savory combination. The bright, zesty peach salsa is an incredible topping for juicy grilled chicken.
- Peach Parfaits: From Love and Zest, these parfaits layer creamy yogurt or custard with fresh peaches and granola, creating a wholesome and delicious breakfast or dessert option.
Print Recipe Card
Spinach Salad with Peaches, Gorgonzola and Almonds
Author: Aggie Goodman
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 1 salad 1x
Category: Salad
Cuisine: Vegetarian / Salad
Your taste buds will be singing with this Spinach Salad with Peaches, Gorgonzola and Almonds. One of my favorite summer salads!
Ingredients
- 2 handfuls (cups) fresh baby spinach leaves
- 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) crumbled gorgonzola
- 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) sliced almonds
- 1 peach, sliced or cut in chunks
- 2 tablespoons of your favorite poppyseed dressing (I love this one from Brianna’s)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or arrange on a plate to make one salad. Drizzle generously with your favorite poppyseed dressing and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutritional Information (calculated via MyFitnessPal): Approximately 372 calories / 25 g fat / 9g protein / 23g sugar / 28g carbs
(Calculated using Brianna’s Rich Poppyseed Dressing as an example.)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 372
- Sugar: 23 g
- Fat: 25 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Protein: 9 g