A juicy 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!
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Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. ~Pema Chodron
After coming home from the farmers market the other day with an armful of juicy nectarines and some cool crisp cucumbers, I put them together and made a salad right on the spot. It was so simple, easy and tasty, I thought I’d share!
In the evening, the leftovers of the Nectarine Salad were tossed with tender greens for my husband Brian, who declared it “yummy!”.
I’ve had this idea in my head that things that grow together at the same time of year, usually taste good together. This is a theory still in testing, but so far, it rings true. Plus, it just makes things simple, doesn’t it? Given that, you could easily swap out peaches here, or even add tomatoes to the mix. It would still work great.
You can layer the nectarines and cucumber in a shallow bowl, on a platter, or toss everything together in a bowl, up to you.
Add some torn basil leaves.
Thinly slice the red onion and soak it in salted water, to remove the bitterness.
Red onion gives this salad the little bite it needs.
Add the crumbled goat cheese and the basil leaves, then spoon the dressing over top of the Nectarine Salad.
If going vegan, avocado might work well in place of goats cheese for extra richness!
Here I’ve added a little Ufir Biber (Turkish Chili Pepper) for contrast and a little heat. Of course, this is optional.
Urfa Biber (usually just called Urfa) is also known as Isot peppers. The peppers are picked after they turn bright red, then cured for a week to develop their deep purple color and smoky, earthy, sweet flavor. Urfa is commonly used in Turkish and Kurdish cooking but can be used anywhere you want a little smoky heat and contrast.
So here it is… Nectarine Salad with cucumber, Basil, Goats Cheese, Red onion -a simple delicious Farmers Market Salad you can put together in minutes!
RELATED: 35 Must-Try Farmers Market Recipes
Nectarine Salad with Cucumber, Basil and Goat Cheese
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: salad
- Method: tossed
- Cuisine: northwest
Description
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
- 1/4 cup finely sliced red onion
- 3 ripe ( semi-firm) nectarines
- 4 Turkish cucumbers (or use a small English cucumber)
- 1/8 cup basil leaves, torn
- 1/4 –1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles
Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons champagne, sherry, apple cider or white balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey or alternative sweetener
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Urfa Biber chili pepper ( optional)
Optional: tender greens or arugula, toasted nuts of choice.
Instructions
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 this on its own or over tender greens.
Notes
You can also toss the nectarines, cucumbers, basil and onions in a medium bowl with the dressing. It will be quite “juicy” so serve it over tender greens or arugula, and top with goat cheese.
This is a great place to use any light, fruit-infused vinegars- like raspberry vinegar, etc.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 177
- Sugar: 13.5 g
- Sodium: 155.8 mg
- Fat: 11.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 18.9 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 1.9 mg
Great recipe as always! Sooo delicious 😋
Thanks Sandy, glad you gave it a try!
Delicious combination! We love this with grilled salmon but I’ll bet it would be even better with pork. Blue cheese crumbles work well if you don’t have goat cheese, and it’s ok if the nectarines aren’t perfectly ripe since the dressing brings out their flavor so well.
Just got home from the market with fresh nectarines! I have cucumbers and basil to harvest from the garden. I even has Champagne vinegar and goat cheese on hand! So this was the perfect recipe to come across. Thanks so much, it was delicious!!
Awesome, so happy it all came together for you! Really appreciate your review!
Think I’m going to use peaches because I’m going to get a case for canning anyway. I’m wondering though, should I dip the fruit in a lemon water bath so they don’t brown so quickly?
It wouldn’t hurt. Peaches tend to brown faster than nectarines. You could also just toss them with a little dressing to ensure they get a good coating.
I would love to make this to accompany an entree. Any recommendations? Looking forward to trying this salad! Urba Bieber has become one of my favorite things since discovering it— so excited to have another recipe to use it in! 😊
I think this would pair well with anything Mediterranean or Middle Eastern. You can click on those categories and see what strikes you? Even something simple like our Best Grilled Chicken Recipe or our Cedar Plank Salmon would go nicely.
This was a summer cook out hit!! I subbed Aleppo for Urfa pepper. So so good.
Glad to hear it Electra!
Delicious 😋. Hot outdoors and snack time. This was a perfect refreshing easy snack-salad. 😌
So glad you enjoyed!
What a great combination–I used peaches as a neighbor was sharing from a tree in their yard–small but firm great peaches, cucumber from farmers market, and used reduced fat feta as what I had on hand, ( but will pick up some goat cheese for next time) pistachios, and also just got a small cabbage that I shredded as a base. Very good–I added chives and basil from my herbs and that takes it to another level.
So happy you enjoyed this Frances!
I made this for myself for dinner tonight since my partner doesn’t like cucumbers (how weird is that??) or goat cheese. OMG it was amazing! As in, I might make it again tomorrow. And the next day. Until the goat cheese is gone… So good I shared the recipe with my sister who got all the cooking genes in the family! thnk you!!!
Thanks Michelle- I love this one too!
Just made this delicious salad with home grown cucumbers, home grown nectarines, and home grown basil – absolutely wonderful recipe I will use over and over whilst fruits and veg in season
Sounds delicious Jane!
Made this yummy salad with one peach and one nectarine, a bit of aleppo pepper and grilled a piece of salmon to go along side. So good! I love to eat this way, so healthy and fresh. Thank you for a great recipe!
Thanks Lisa!
So, to be honest. I didn’t make this recipe as written. I used it as an inspiration. I had to sub so many ingredients, as I was not leaving the confines of my air conditioned home at 7:00pm, while it was it was still 98 degrees here. I subbed peaches for nectarines, I didn’t have a cucumber and I subbed blue cheese for goat. Added a piece of hot smoked salmon, pistachios, and subbed aleppo for the urfa biba. It was divine. I did use the white balsamic. It was perfect!!
Sounds great Robin!
I am obsessed with this salad! Thank you
Yay! glad you like it Julia!
Looks great!
Will make it today!
Awesome Tatyana!
I made this salad and added some cooked shrimp for added protein. It was so delicious! I’ll make again. Great dinner on a hot Houston day!
Love the idea of shrimp with this!
Delicious way to enjoy the fruits of the garden! I added a few plums and reduced the nectarines and placed it all on a bed of arugula. Added a handful of toasted hazelnuts before serving. Beautiful and delicious. Another 5 star recipe. Thank you!
Awesome, great to hear Eve! 🙌
So easy, and so full of flavor! We all loved it.
I’m so glad you did! I love this one too!
Made this with peaches because that is what I had on had. Added a few tomatoes like you suggested- so tasty!
Making it tonight. Wondering how far in advance you can make it, without nectarines turning brown.
Best served the same day.
Absolutely beautiful on a plate
And just as much in your mouth!
So happy you liked it!
Absolutely fabulous with some almost too ripe nectarines.
Delicious and simple!
Thanks Kristina! Glad you liked….and thanks for the rating!