Honey Lime Basil Peach Fruit Salad

A few years ago I fell in love with peaches. Not that they weren’t good all those years before, but it wasn’t until after having some sort of peach pie or crisp that I really committed to loving them like I’ve never loved a fruit before.

Except maybe Honeycrisp apples; those sweet crunchy things lure me in everytime (even if they’re $4.99/pound). I know… shame on me.

Today’s summer fruit salad is one that I make every time I entertain during the summer months; it’s the perfect side dish to accompany grilled chicken, salmon or veggie kabobs.

Another reason I dig this peach fruit salad? Because it’s a wonderful way to get kids to really dig into some fresh, nutritious fruit. The best part of this recipe though is that it’s completely customizable, so if you feel like adding other berries or fruit, you can! Sometimes I use yellow nectarines but usually I opt for sweet, ripe fresh yellow peaches because of their unique sweetness and texture.

Summer fruit salad ingredients

Before I save the above photo as the screensaver on my phone, let’s talk about what ingredients you’ll need to make this easy fruit salad. Head to the farmer’s market (or your own garden!) and grab:

• Fresh yellow peaches
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• A pomegranate
• Fresh basil leaves
• Lime juice
• Honey

This fresh, summer produce is then drizzled with a bit of honey and a squeeze of lime juice for a sweet and tangy finish to the delicious fruit. I love how the basil brings a fresh earthiness and makes the fruit salad a bit different from what we’re used to.

What to serve with this peach fruit salad

This gorgeous summer salad is best served with other delicious summer recipes. Here are some of my favorites:

Customize this summer peach fruit salad

Feel free to make this fruit salad your own!

• Keep it vegan by omitting the honey or use a bit of maple syrup
• Add strawberries, raspberries, nectarine or fresh cherries
• Swap the basil for fresh mint
• Get a little wild with a sprinkle of chili powder or cayenne pepper
• Add some feta or goat cheese crumbles, creamy avocado and your favorite greens like arugula or spinach

What fruit is best for fruit salad?

I have found that fruit salad is best with firm berries and other fruit that doesn’t easily break down or get mushy, so that if you want to prep the salad a few hours ahead of time, you totally can. I suggest avoiding raspberries, watermelon and bananas, as they can easily get soggy. Make sure that when you add peaches they aren’t overly ripe and still have some firmness to them!

How to store this peach fruit salad

This peach fruit salad will stay good for about 2-4 days in the refrigerator in airtight containers. The acid from the lime juice will also help prevent the peaches from browning, and will keep the rest of the fruit tasting nice and fresh. It’s great to toss in quinoa, on top of spinach, or on top of a bowl of yogurt in the morning.

If you want to make this peach fruit salad ahead of time, feel free to add everything to a bowl 1 day before you’re ready to serve it. I would recommend adding the basil ribbons last so that they keep their pretty green color when tossed with the salad.

I mean, come on… don’t you want to just dive in?

Don’t lie to me.

I hope you love this gorgeous summer peach fruit salad. If you make it, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram. You can also leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how you liked it. xo!

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats