Easy Cucumber, Peach, and Basil Salad

Salads are a great way to celebrate the season and are especially refreshing on hot summer days. This peach and cucumber salad has a simple set of ingredients that play together in a fun way.

This quick and easy salad is delicious on its own, but also pairs beautifully with hearty meats, adding a cool and zesty bite to anything served with it. You’ll quickly see why this unexpected combination just works.

How to cut stone fruit

First, cut the fruit in half lengthwise and slice all the way around the pit, using the notch as a guide. Hold each half of the sliced ​​fruit and twist them in opposite directions.

On ripe fruit, this action should help separate the halves easily. If not, use your hands to pull the halves apart. If you have a Cling Free or Freestone peach, you can easily remove the pit. If not, use a spoon to dig it up.

The best cucumbers for salad

English cucumbers are ideal for this recipe as they are almost seedless and have a thin skin. Sometimes you can see English cucumbers sold wrapped in plastic. They are also called seedless or burpless cucumbers.

Persian cucumbers are often sold as miniature cucumbers. They would be a good substitute for English cucumbers, however, due to their size, it would take two to three Persian cucumbers for one English cucumber. With both varieties, you don’t need to peel them as they both have a thin skin.

If you have regularly sliced ​​cucumbers and want to use them, simply peel the skin, cut them in half and scoop out the seeds so they don’t water down the salad. From there you can cut them into chunks.

Swaps and Substitutions for Cucumber Peach Salad

This salad is incredibly versatile. You can easily swap out almost every ingredient. The idea is to just have fun with it!

• Substitute mint, cilantro, or tarragon for the basil in the vinaigrette.
• If you don’t have peaches, try nectarines or plums.
• No cucumbers? Try leafy greens and any crunchy veggies you have on hand, like fennel or even green beans.
• For a spicy kick, swap out the subtle black pepper for a few slices of jalapeño.
• If you want to add cheese, try salty feta or creamy goat cheese.

Can you make cucumber and peach salad ahead of time?

If you need to make this ahead of time, prepare the dressing and pickles (but not the peaches) and store them separately. Wait to arrange the salad until just before serving. This salad is best enjoyed right away, as the peaches will oxidize and turn brown over time, and the cucumber will shed water, diluting the flavorful dressing.

What to serve with this summer salad

The freshness and acidity of this salad pair well with almost any grilled meat: chicken, steak, even burgers! Even simple grilled fish such as trout or salmon or seafood are complemented by this spicy combination.

This salad really doesn’t need an accompaniment and is also perfect as a standalone afternoon snack or light lunch.

More summery salads

• Panzanella bread salad
• Caprese salad with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella
• Arugula salad with tomatoes, corn and burrata
• Lentil salad with summer vegetables
• traditional coleslaw