Easy Cucumber, Peach, and Basil Salad

Cool, crunchy cucumbers combined with sweet, juicy peaches and dressed in a peppery basil vinaigrette is a great way to make the most of summer and all its gorgeous flavors. This refreshing salad is easy to make and goes great with grilled meat.

By
Kalisa Marie Martin
Kalisa Marie Martin
Kalisa Marie Martin
Kalisa Marie Martin a is classically trained chef, content creator, and travel entrepreneur of Jamaican heritage.
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Updated May 09, 2022
Kalisa Marie Martin
Refreshing summer salad made with peaches and cucumbers in a bowl with peaches, limes and basil to the left.
Kalisa Marie Martin

Salads are a great way to celebrate the season and are especially refreshing on hot summer days. This peach and cucumber salad has a simple set of ingredients that play off of each other in a fun way.

The black pepper and lime in the basil vinaigrette add a brightness and layer of complexity that gives this dish the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

This quick and easy salad is delicious on its own but also pairs wonderfully with savory meats, adding a cool and zesty bite to whatever it’s served alongside. You’ll quickly see why this unexpected combination just works.

How To Slice Stone Fruit

First, cut the fruit in half, lengthwise, slicing all the way around the pit using the indent as a guide. Hold each half of the cut fruit and twist in opposite directions.

With ripe fruit, this action should help separate the halves easily. If not, use your hands to pull the halves apart. If you have a Cling-Free or Freestone Peach, you’ll be able to remove the pit easily. If not, use a spoon to dig it out.

Summer peach and cucumber salad in a bowl with a serving spoon. A blue linen is to the right and peaches, limes and basil are to the left of the bowl.
Kalisa Marie Martin

The Best Cucumbers for Salad

English cucumbers are ideal for this recipe because they’re nearly seedless and have thin skins. Sometimes you will see English cucumbers sold wrapped in plastic. They are also called seedless or burpless cucumbers.

Persian cucumbers are often sold as mini cucumbers. They would be a good replacement for English cucumbers, however, you’d need two to three Persian cucumbers to one English cucumber, due to the size. With either variety, you won’t need to peel them as they both have thin skin.

If you happen to have regular slicing cucumbers and would like to use those, just peel the skin, slice them in half, and scoop out the seeds so they don’t water down the salad. From there, you can chop them into chunks.

Swaps and Substitutions for Cucumber Peach Salad

This salad is incredibly versatile. You can make simple swaps for almost every ingredient. The idea is just to have fun with it!

  • Swap the basil in the vinaigrette out for mint, cilantro, or tarragon.
  • If you don’t have peaches, try nectarines or plums.
  • No cucumbers? Try leafy greens and whatever crunchy vegetables you have on hand, like fennel or even string beans.
  • For a spicy kick, swap the subtle black pepper for a few slices of jalapeño.
  • If you’d like to add cheese, try briny feta or creamy goat cheese.
Close up of a bowl of peach and cucumber salad.
Kalisa Marie Martin

Can You Make Cucumber Peach Salad Ahead of Time?

If you need to make this ahead, prepare the dressing and the cucumbers (but not the peaches), and store them separately. Wait to dress the salad until just before you’re ready to serve. This salad is best enjoyed immediately as, over time, the peaches will oxidize and turn brown and the cucumber will release water, diluting the flavorful dressing.

What To Serve With This Summer Salad

The freshness and acidity of this salad pair well with just about any grilled meats: chicken, steak, even burgers! Simple grilled fish like trout or salmon or seafood are also complemented by this flavorful combination.

Really, this salad doesn’t need accompaniment and is also perfect as a stand-alone afternoon snack or light lunch.

A forkful of peach and cucumber salad with a black pepper basil vinaigrette above a plate of the salad with slices of bread next to it.
Kalisa Marie Martin

More Summery Salads

Easy Cucumber, Peach, and Basil Salad

Prep Time 15 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Servings 4 servings

Blending this vinaigrette in a food processor allows all of the ingredients to disperse most evenly. While the dressing may be whisked by hand instead, the flavors will not be as pronounced.

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 1 (12- to 14-inch) English cucumber, cut into 1-inch chunks

  • 2 fresh peaches, cut into 1-inch chunks

For the vinaigrette:

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

  • Zest of 1 lime

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 4 large fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish

  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

Method

  1. Prep the vegetables:

    Add the chopped peaches and cucumbers to a large bowl.

    Summer peach and cucumber salad is mixed with a spoon.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  2. Make the vinaigrette:

    In the bowl or a mini food processor or blender, combine the oil, vinegar, lime zest and juice, honey, basil, salt and pepper. Pulse until the basil is finely chopped and the vinaigrette is completely emulsified.

    Ingredients for black pepper basil vinaigrette are being poured into the bowl of a food processor.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Food processor with black pepper basil vinaigrette to make a healthy summer peach and cucumber salad.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  3. Dress the produce:

    Pour the vinaigrette over the peach and cucumber mixture. Stir to coat evenly.

    The bowl of a food processor with black pepper basil vinaigrette is being poured over a bowl of chopped cucumbers and peaches.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Hands holding a spoon and mixing chopped cucumbers and peaches to make a refreshing summer salad made with peaches and cucumbers.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  4. Serve:

    Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with torn basil leaves and serve immediately.

    A plate of peach and cucumber salad with a black pepper and basil vinaigrette pooling on the plate.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
133 Calories
4g Fat
26g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 133
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 40mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 10%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 23mg 114%
Calcium 31mg 2%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 446mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.