Nectarine Salad with Cucumber, Basil and Goat Cheese Recipe
Nectarine Salad with Cucumber, Basil, Goat Cheese, Red onion and optional Urfa Biber (Turkish Chili Pepper). A simple delicious Farmers Market Salad you can put together in minutes!
How to Make the Best Nectarine Salad with Cucumber, Basil and Goat Cheese
This vibrant nectarine salad celebrates the best of summer produce with juicy stone fruit, crisp cucumbers, and creamy goat cheese. It’s the kind of effortless dish you throw together after a farmers market run, and it never fails to impress with its beautiful colors and fresh flavors.
The secret to this salad is in the details: soaking the red onion removes its harsh bite, allowing the sweet nectarines to shine. The simple honey vinaigrette brings everything together without overpowering the delicate fruit, while the optional Urfa Biber—a Turkish chili pepper with smoky, raisin-like notes—adds an unexpected layer of complexity.
Whether you serve it as a light lunch, a stunning side dish, or over a bed of tender greens for a more substantial meal, this nectarine salad is summer eating at its finest. It comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute entertaining.
Nectarine Salad with Cucumber, Basil and Goat Cheese
Nectarine Salad with Cucumber, Basil, Goat Cheese, Red onion and optional Urfa Biber (Turkish Chili Pepper). A simple delicious Farmers Market Salad you can put together in minutes!
Ingredients
Salad
Dressing
Instructions
Prepare the Salad
- Thinly slice red onion using a mandolin (if possible) and place in a small bowl of water. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and soak 10-15 minutes to remove bitterness.
- Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Slice nectarines into 1/2 inch thick slices. Slice cucumbers into thin rings. Arrange in a shallow bowl or on a platter over optional greens.
- Rinse and drain the onions and scatter about. Top with torn basil leaves and goat cheese crumbles.
- Spoon dressing over top. Sprinkle with optional Urfa Biber.
- Serve on its own or over tender greens.
Notes
- Use semi-firm nectarines for the best texture—overly ripe ones will become mushy.
- Soaking the red onion in salted water removes the sharp, bitter taste and makes it milder.
- Turkish cucumbers have thin skins and few seeds, but English cucumber works as a substitute.
- Urfa Biber adds a smoky, slightly sweet heat—it's worth seeking out at specialty stores.
