This grilled nectarine salad is a delicious combination of sweet fruit, punchy arugula, crunchy fennel and pine nuts and meltingly tangy goat's cheese. Easy to make and a delicious change to your usual sides.

This post may contain affiliate links, where we earn from qualifying purchases. See more details in the policy page.

We love grilled vegetables as a side to grilled meat and fish, but sometimes a salad is just what you need (like one of these make ahead salads). Especially on warmer days, I for one just want something light and easy.

Since the grill is on anyway, this grilled nectarine salad is a perfect fit for a summer meal. It's incredibly fresh and tasty and goes really well with grilled meats such as steak, as we had here. With a delicious balance of sweet nectarine, crunchy peppery arugula, goat's cheese and pine nuts, you'll be wanting it any time you can.

grilled nectarine salad served on plate as a side to steak with corn cob behind

I look forward to nectarine and peach season every year. I've loved introducing my son to them as well, even if I then have to clean up the mess!

They make a great ingredient in cooking as well, with grilling and baking really bringing out the flavor, like in grilled peaches with mascarpone or peach and pistachio tart. They're also great in drinks like basil peach margarita and peach lassi. This grilled nectarine salad is another great way to enjoy them without too much effort.

grilled nectarine salad close up in bowl

How to make this grilled nectarine salad

This is a really quick salad to make without too many ingredients, but it all comes together and feels surprisingly complex. I think it's the mix of textures and fact you have fruit, cheese, nuts and vegetables in there. All you do is:

Whisk the simple dressing and toss the nectarines in some before grilling them.
Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts, cut the fennel and crumble the goats cheese.
Put the arugula and fennel in the serving bowl and drizzle over the rest of the dressing. Toss together.
Top with the pine nuts, crumbled goat's cheese and sliced grilled nectarines.

All incredibly simple and quick. If you can employ someone as a grillmaster, you can have the rest done while the grilling is going on and then bring it all together to serve.

grilled nectarine salad showing part of bowl from overhead

What to serve with this salad

We had this with a lovely ribeye steak from our meat box, and the lightness and flavors in this salad were a perfect accompaniment, but it would also go with other meats and fish. You probably don't want to pair it with anything too elaborate given the mix of flavors in here, but do experiment and see what you like to enjoy it with.

The flavors of this grilled nectarine salad are incredibly tasty and fresh. They work so well together and it's a real bowlful of summer. A delicious mix of textures, from the soft fragrant nectarine to the crunchy, peppery arugula and the little crunch of pine nuts. We will definitely be enjoying this again as the nectarine season progresses when we get back.

grilled nectarine salad served as side to steak with corn cob behind

Looking for more summer-ready salads? Try these!

Grilled chicken and blueberry salad
Caprese quinoa salad with beet and avocado
Grilled peach salad
Prosciutto salad with peach and mozzarella
Plus get more tasty summer recipes in the archives.

Print Recipe

5 from 4 votes