Caramelized Peach Arugula Salad

This Caramelized Peach Arugula Salad is the ultimate sweet and savory meal. Honey balsamic marinated peaches are combined with creamy goat cheese, protein-packed quinoa, toasted pecans, and finished with a simple homemade creamy maple balsamic vinaigrette. An easy summer salad that is perfect for lunch, dinner, or entertaining!

 

Do you have a favorite season? For me, it’s always been summer. There is just something about this season that fills my heart with allllll the warm, fuzzy feels (although that may have something to do with the 90+ degree heat…)

That said, the transition from summer to fall has always been somewhat of a challenge for me. While part of me wants to dive headfirst into all things pumpkin and apple, the reality is that I typically spend the latter part of the summer season mourning the impending loss of fresh summer berries, backyard BBQs, and picnics on the beach. Fortunately, there is still plenty of late summer produce available to help carry me through this difficult time of the year. After all, it’s pretty hard to be upset when you have fresh peach juice dribbling down your chin. It’s just a fact.

 

I first shared the recipe for this Caramelized Peach Arugula Salad way back in 2016 (when the blog was but a wee baby) and it quickly became one of my favorite summer meals. Unfortunately, thanks to some unfortunate photography and essentially non-existent SEO (search engine optimization for all you non-computer geeks out there), the recipe got buried in my archives and never truly got the recognition that it deserved.

So when I found myself with a fridge full of peaches this past weekend (they were only $0.48/lb at Sprouts!), I knew it was time to resurface this recipe and update this post. And it just so happened that I had a batch of my favorite Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette in my fridge just begging to be used (but then again, I almost always have a batch of it on hand!)

What the heck does caramelized mean?

You’ve probably seen the word “caramelized” plastered on the menu of fancy restaurants, but what exactly does it mean? And is it really as complicated as it sounds? (Spoiler alert: it’s not!)

Scientifically speaking, caramelization refers to the process that occurs when sugar is exposed to heat. During this process, compounds within the food are released and alter the flavor and color of the sugar. The result? A dark, rich, and flavorful layer of caramelized goodness.

What foods can you caramelize?

Believe it or not, you can actually caramelize most types of fruits (and vegetables). The naturally occurring sugars in the produce react with the heat to develop a nutty flavor that is absolutely to. die. for. Onions are one of the most common foods to caramelize, but really you can caramelize pretty much any type of fruit or vegetable that your heart desires!

Health benefits of caramelized peaches

When it comes to caramelizing fruit, peaches are the way to go – especially since their nutritional value actually increases with heat. That’s because peaches are full of beta-carotene, a nutrient that the body then converts to vitamin A. And it turns out, heat actually helps to release beta-carotene from food, making it more readily available to be absorbed into the body’s bloodstream. Pretty neat, huh?

How to caramelize peaches

High, dry heat is the key to achieving perfect caramelized fruit. For this reason, the best cooking methods for caramelizing include sautéing, grilling, or roasting in the oven. Although there is something to be said for grilled peaches in the summertime, I actually find that sautéing on the stove is the quickest and easiest way to make caramelized peaches. Cooking the marinated fruit over medium heat helps to release the sugars in the fruit and brings out even more of the fruit’s natural sweetness.

To start, add a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar in a shallow dish. Add a touch of honey and stir to combine. Add sliced peaches to the honey balsamic mixture and marinate for at least 5 minutes per side (the longer you marinate, the more pronounced the flavor).

Meanwhile, preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add peaches and cook for 2-4 minutes per side, until caramelized. (Don’t be alarmed if the sauce begins to bubble – this is normal and part of the caramelization process!) Remove the peaches from the pan and set aside to cool slightly before tossing with remaining salad ingredients.

Do I need to add sugar to caramelized peaches?

Most recipes for caramelized peaches call for the addition of white or brown sugar to help with the browning process, but not this one. The natural sugars from the fruit, paired with the subtly sweet undertones of the balsamic vinegar and a touch of sweetness from the honey, is enough to create a nice layer of caramelization on the flesh of the peach. Plus, the acidity of the vinegar helps to balance out the natural sweetness from the fruit and honey (after all, this is a salad, not a dessert).

How to eat caramelized peaches

Chances are, once you try caramelized peaches, you’re going to want to start putting them on anything and everything. While I obviously highly recommend that you first try caramelized peaches on this Caramelized Peach Arugula Salad, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a few of my other favorite ways to enjoy this summertime delicacy. Mix them into yogurt or oatmeal, use them as a topping for French toast or pancakes, or serve them a la mode with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. YUM!