Leafy green salads are traditionally absent from Pakistani cuisine. Our palate is accustomed to richly spiced curries, heavily laden with meat and vegetables. However, I love salads and am always trying to find ways to incorporate them into my family’s diet. I like to add some of the bold flavors I’m accustomed to enjoying by making my dressings from scratch. The sweet and spicy pecans, made from scratch, add bold flavor and texture to this salad. I love this grilled peach salad with chicken malai tikka, easy chicken tikka boti, or tandoori chicken.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Nutritious meal - This salad is so delicious it’s hard to remember that it’s also very healthy. Bold flavor—The homemade dressing and toasted pecans, which use spices and flavors inherent in Pakistani cuisine, make this salad anything but boring. Perfect summer recipe: Fresh, juicy peaches, seasonal blueberries, and crispy greens combine to create a refreshing meal for the heat. Make-ahead recipe - Prepare the dressing and pecans a day or two ahead of time. Grill the peaches a few hours before serving the salad, and assemble everything before eating it.
Ingredient notes
While this salad may seem complicated, most of the ingredients needed for this recipe are easy to source, and everything comes together quickly.
The salad ingredients
The greens—Use your favorite mix of greens. Arugula and spinach are my favorites, but whatever is available at the supermarket works. Add some microgreens for a nutritious and beautiful finish. The fruit - The blueberries add flavor and color to this grilled peach salad. The dressing - A sweet and spicy homemade balsamic vinaigrette adds a punch that makes this salad unforgettable. The pecans - Homemade spiced pecans add texture and a contrast in flavor.
The dressing ingredients
Oil & Vinegar - Infused oils and vinegar are a great way to create salad dressings from scratch. With no additives or preservatives, this full-bodied dressing is healthier than store-bought. Serrano - Crushed serrano chilies add an earthy, smoky, and spicy taste. Honey - Sweet honey adds density and balances all the other flavors. Lime - Tart and tangy fresh lime juice brings the dressing to a perfect finish.
Spiced pecan ingredients
Pecans—Living in Mississippi, I’ve grown to love pecans and find them perfect for this grilled peach salad. Oil - For the toasted pecans, Use extra light virgin olive oil, as it has a high smoke point. Alternate options are provided in the recipe card if this is not available. Seasoning - Salt and paprika are combined to season the nuts. Sugar - Dark brown sugar adds a depth of flavor, while confectioner sugar helps absorb moisture and keeps the nuts crispy.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and recipe instructions.
Substitutions & variations
Use different nuts - Walnuts or pistachios make great substitutes for the pecans in this grilled peach salad. Add maple syrup - Swap the honey for maple syrup to make this salad vegan. Switch up the fruits - Use nectarines and blackberries instead of peaches and blueberries. Garnish with edible flowers - These are a beautiful addition to any salad, and I love adding them whenever possible.
Step-by-step instructions
Expert Tips
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