Fennel & Peach Salad with Mint & Pesto

This peach salad has all my favorite ingredients: fresh herbs, crisp fennel & juicy peaches. Pistachios, pesto & feta give it tangy, rich pops of flavor.

SUMMER / SALAD / GLUTEN FREE

I think fennel is way too underrated. It’s one of my absolute favorite vegetables and I’m just waiting for the day that it becomes “the new” kale so that everyone will love fennel salads as much as I do. The wisps of raw fennel soak up the olive oil and lemon juice just enough that they slightly wilt, but still keep a tender bite. I usually pair fennel salads with something juicy (peaches!), something creamy (feta and/or pesto), and something crunchy (pistachios).

Here’s what’s in this super simple fennel & peach salad:

Of course, I tossed on a handful of mint and basil for good measure.

This is a great side dish, or add some roasted chickpeas to make it more of a meal. It keeps well in the fridge for about 2 days, so I like to have it with dinner on the first night and for lunch the next day.

Happy fennel-ing! For more summer salad ideas, try this roasted cherry tomato salad, this tomato basil salad, this peach panzanella, or this pasta salad.

Fennel & Peach Salad with Mint & Pesto

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

Crisp fennel contrasts perfectly with juicy peaches & creamy pesto and feta in this late summer salad. Serve it as a dinner side or pack it up for a light lunch.

Author: Jeanine Donofrio

Recipe type: Salad

Serves: 4 as a side

Ingredients

• 2 medium fennel bulbs, sliced paper thin
• 2 Persian cucumbers, very thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, more for drizzling
• 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice, more for to taste
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 peaches, pitted and sliced
• ⅓ cup mixed basil and mint
• 2 tablespoons toasted and crushed pistachios
• ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese*
• Scoops of pesto (recipe below)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, toss together the fennel, cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and several grinds of black pepper.
2. Arrange the fennel mixture on a platter along with the peaches, herbs, pistachios, feta, and scoops of pesto. Drizzle with olive oil and season to taste as desired.
3. Serves 4 as a side.

Notes

*Note: Make the salad vegan by skipping the feta and adding extra scoops of pesto.

Pesto
½ cup pepitas
1 small garlic clove
¼ teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cups fresh basil
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

In a small food processor, combine the pepitas, garlic, salt, and several grinds of black pepper and pulse until combined. Add the lemon juice and basil and pulse again. With the blade running, drizzle in the olive oil.