Capture the vibe of summer with this light, bright, and sweet dressing. Vibrant and delicate flavors combined, making it perfect for drizzling over salads or grilled vegetables. It gives your dishes all those summer “feels”.
Summer’s Peach Vinaigrette
I seriously LOVE all stone fruit – well, that is, except for demon seeds (aka cherries). I easily buy 10 pounds a week for the two of us to go through. Most folks think of peaches for jellies, pies, and canning; however, they are amazing in a dressing.
Peaches have a wonderful natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with many savory dishes. Living in Arizona, we live on many cold foods and salads from May to September. This honey peach poppy seed vinaigrette is not only perfect for your favorite summer salad, but also for chicken and pork dishes. Let me show you just how easy it is to make!
Peach Honey Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients
Except for the Peach Cider Vinegar, you should have most of these ingredients on hand. We’ve all had apple cider vinegar, but y’all, this peach cider vinegar is PERFECT for this vinaigrette.
No worries though if you don’t have it or can’t get it from Amazon. I have substitutions listed below. But trust me, you’re going to want this in your pantry!
- Produce: shallot and a fresh peach
- Honey
- Orange Juice
- Dijon Mustard
- Seasonings & herbs
Homemade Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
- Cut the peach in half, discard the pit, and give the peach a rough chop.
- Slice the shallot and toss it, along with the peaches, into a 4-cup food processor. Process for about 15-25 seconds or until they are broken down.
- Add the remaining ingredients, except the poppy seeds, and process for about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down the bowl. If necessary, process for an additional 10-15 seconds or until fully emulsified.
- Remove the lid and add in the poppy seeds, stirring to combine.
Chef Lori’s #1 Tip for Emulsifying a Vinaigrette
- If your food processor has an opening that allows you to stream in the oil while processing, use that slowly. If it doesn’t, then add all the oil and process it for about 30 seconds to allow it to thicken fully. Scrape it down and process for another 15 seconds.
How to Store Homemade Vinaigrette
- Transfer the vinaigrette to a lidded jar or container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- When you pull it out of the fridge, it may be super thick; that is normal. A few minutes at room temp and it should loosen up slightly without breaking.
Why You’ll Love This Summer Vinaigrette
This summer, vinaigrette is light, bright, fresh, and so versatile.
- FRESH & FLAVORFUL: With fresh peaches and honey, this vinaigrette adds a burst of flavor to your dishes without a long list of ingredients.
- LIGHT & BRIGHT: Unlike ranch or heavy, creamy dressings, this one doesn’t weigh you or your salads down, making it perfect for summer weather.
- VERSATILE: Naturally, it’s fantastic on a salad, but it’s also awesome for marinating proteins or grilled veggies. Also, add it to cooked rice or couscous for a killer grain dish!
- EASY TO MAKE: This vinaigrette comes together in just a few minutes and is easy to modify to adjust to your tastes.
Peach Vinaigrette FAQs
- I don’t have peach vinegar. What else can I use? Use either champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar.
- Can I use nectarines instead of peaches? Absolutely!
- Do I have to use poppy seeds? Nope. They add a hint of nutty flavor but are more for texture.
- How long will this last in the fridge? About a week, as it does contain fresh, raw fruit.
What to Serve with Honey Peach Vinaigrette
- Arugula Salad: You could easily use this vinaigrette on my Arugula Feta Salad with Fruit, Prosciutto, and Candied Nuts
- Stone Fruit Salad: I use it on this salad, and it was pure summer on every single forkful!
- Pork: This, in a marinade or glaze for pork, is incredible, especially when served with grilled peaches.
- Chicken: I love this on grilled chicken with wilted spinach and stone fruit.
Here’s what I used:
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Easy Honey Peach Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Capture the vibe of summer with this light, bright, and sweet dressing. Vibrant and delicate flavors combined, making it perfect for drizzling over salads or grilled vegetables. It gives your dishes all those summer “feels”.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: ~1.25 cup
- Category: vinaigrette, fresh peaches, summer salad, poppy seed dressing
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: vinaigrette, fresh peaches, summer salad, poppy seed dressing
Ingredients
- 1 medium shallot, roughly chopped
- 1 large peach, pitted and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup peach vinegar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves *optional
Instructions
- In the bowl of a 4-cup food processor, add the shallots and peaches and process for 15-25 seconds or until the shallots and peaches are all broken down. Add the rest of the ingredients except the poppy seeds. Process for about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Scrape and process for an additional 15 seconds, or until the mixture is fully emulsified. Add in the poppy seeds and stir to combine.
- Transfer to a jar with a lid and either use immediately or store in the fridge for up to a week.
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