Easy Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Toasted Quinoa
Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Toasted Quinoa
Mixing sweet and savory is one of the best culinary inventions. It gives you taste of all things delicious by combining unlikely foods that make for really delicious meals. I also like to play around with textures when I cook. I think textures are an under appreciated way to really change how a meal feels and tastes! This recipe for peach and prosciutto salad with toasted quinoa is one of those perfect combinations of sweet, savory, and contrasting textures. Paired with delicious flavors from goat cheese, artichoke hearts, and balsamic vinegar, this salad is so good! The quinoa is toasted to bring out its natural nutty flavor, and then the pecans and prosciutto are added for crisping with the quinoa before everything is combined and drizzled with a honey and lemon vinaigrette. This salad is fun, filling, and super easy. I hope you give it a try and love it as much as I do!
Notes and Tips for Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Toasted Quinoa:
This salad is super easy to prepare. All of the ingredients that need to be toasted can be toasted in one skillet to help eliminate the amount of dishes you will have to do.
I recommend using kitchen scissors to cut the prosciutto. Prosciutto can be a bit hard to slice with a knife but if you snip with kitchen scissors, you can cut directly over your skillet.
I love adding fresh herbs to this salad. You can add rosemary or basil on top or throw them into the dressing to wilt a bit before adding to the salad!
How To Keep Peaches Fresh For Salad?
The best method for keeping peaches fresh for a salad is to slice them right before you use them. If you are going to a party or event and want to bring this salad, I suggest slicing the peaches once you get there to prevent browning and have the freshest taste.
Once sliced, you can squeeze a lemon juice on your peaches. Lemon juice introduces acid, which should help prevent browning. The salad dressing for this salad uses lemon juice, so you can skip this step if you plan on serving the salad right away.
What Does Peach and Prosciutto Salad Go With?
Peach and prosciutto is definitely a hearty meal all on its own but if you are looking to enhance it with some extra protein or want a good dessert pairing, I have listed my favorites below. If you like quick meals like this one, check out my free Quick and Easy Recipe Booklet that you can get for free when you join my email list!
My Lemon Dill Chicken is a light chicken dish that is perfect for pairing with this sweet and savory salad. It can even go on top!
My easy Chicken Saltimbocca actually uses prosciutto! You can leave the prosciutto out from the salad and pair everything together by serving the chicken saltimbocca with the peach salad. Its truly a combination of sweet and salty.
End this incredible meal with My Tasty Chocolate Chip Cookies! Nothing tops off a good dinner like a little sweet treat :)
What Can I use Instead of Peaches?
Peaches are not always available year round and this salad definitely does not taste the same with canned peaches. If you are looking for a substitute then there are many other fruits that go well with crispy prosciutto.
Apples are one of the best substitutes for peaches in this salad recipe. They are sweet, a little crispy and available year round!
Other stone fruits like nectarines or even plums, are a great variation for this recipe. Both are sweet and have a similar texture to peaches.
You can even use other fun summer fruits like strawberries or blueberries. Each offer a different flavor, let me know what you substitute with in the comments below!
What Can I Do With Leftover Peaches?
This recipe calls for 2 large ripe peaches. If you decide not to use all your peaches or just have some leftover, there are many other ways to use peaches. You can add them to a delicious smoothie for added fiber and sweetness. You can chop them up and add them to oatmeal with a little coconut milk for a peaches and cream oatmeal. You can even just freeze any leftover peaches and store them for a pie or similar!
What is Prosciutto?
Prosciutto is a cured ham that can come in a cooked or uncooked variety. Since this prosciutto gets crisped in the skillet, buying the cooked or uncooked version is truly a personal preference. I preferred the cooked version but it may also depend on what the store offers near you. If you can not find prosciutto, I suggest using bacon instead of ham, which can be overwhelming in flavor.
How Do You Make Quinoa Taste Good?
I took a long time to warm up to quinoa, and it was not until I started roasting it, did I start to enjoy it. When you roast quinoa in the oven or on the stovetop, it brings out the natural nuttiness of the grain and makes it taste so good!
Prior to toasting, you can also cook your quinoa in chicken or vegetable stock with some black pepper and a bay leaf. This helps infuse the quinoa with some salty flavor that only compliments whatever meal you add it to!
You can use any type of quinoa for this salad. I love tri-colored quinoa, but white or red also tastes good toasted.
Recipe for Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Toasted Quinoa
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 3 oz Prosciutto, about 5-6 slices
- 2 oz goat cheese slices, or crumbles
- 1/4 cup pecans, lightly chopped
- 2 Large peaches, sliced
- 1/4 cup olive oil for toasting and dressing
- 1/4 cup Honey
- Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
- salt and pepper, to taste
- rosemary and basil, optional
Directions For Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Toasted Quinoa:
Cook the Quinoa
Cook 1/2 cup ( will yield about 1 cup cooked) according to package instructions.
Once cooked, set aside to cool for about 20 minutes.
Toast Ingredients
To a skillet over medium heat, add 1 cup of quinoa with 2 Tbs of olive oil or butter.
After a couple of minutes, add in the prosciutto and chopped pecans and1-2 Tbs additional if the skillet is seeming dry.
Toast for 7-10 minutes until the prosciutto is crispy and the pecans are fragrant.
Make the Dressing
While the quinoa, pecans, and prosciutto toasts make the dressing
Whisk or shake together the juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/4 of honey, and 1/4 cup of olive oil.
Once combined, add in salt, pepper, and herbs if using. Taste and adjust oil, honey, or other ingredients to taste.
Cut the Peaches, Cheese and Assemble
Remove the quinoa, pecans, and prosciutto from the heat to a large salad bowl.
Cut 2 large pieces in slices or cubes and add to a large bowl.
If using a hard goat cheese, cut into bite size pieces and add to your bowl.
Drizzle with your honey lemon dressing and toss.
Add Salt and Pepper to taste, Enjoy!
Easy Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Crispy Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 3 oz Prosciutto, about 5-6 slices
- 2 oz goat cheese slices, or crumbles
- 1/4 cup pecans, lightly chopped
- 2 Large peaches, sliced
- 1/4 cup olive oil for toasting and dressing
- 1/4 cup Honey
- Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
- salt and pepper, to taste
- rosemary and basil, optional
Instructions
Nutrition Facts
Calories
443Carbs
37 gFat
31 gSugar
25 gProtein
9 gNote: nutritional information is an estimate. Calories may vary based on ingredients used.