Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Mozzarella and Basil

This peach and prosciutto salad is a fresh summer salad made with ripe peaches, salty prosciutto, mozzarella, fresh basil, toasted pine nuts, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. It's sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy, and perfect for warm-weather lunches, summer entertaining, or an easy no-cook side dish.

If you loved our peach appetizer skewers, think of this as the salad version - juicy peaches wrapped in prosciutto, layered over fresh greens, and finished with mozzarella, basil, toasted pine nuts, and a drizzle of balsamic.

This is one of those salads that looks beautiful on the table but takes very little effort to put together. The peaches bring that sweet, juicy summer flavor, the prosciutto adds a salty savory note, and the mozzarella keeps everything soft and creamy.

We love serving this peach mozzarella salad as part of a summer lunch, alongside grilled meats, or with a few other seasonal salads for an easy Mediterranean-inspired spread.

Scroll down for step-by-step photos, chef's tips, wine pairings, and simple variations.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Peach and Prosciutto Salad
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Seasonality: When Are Peaches in Season?
• Prosciutto vs Parma Ham
• How to Make Peach and Prosciutto Salad
• Flavor Variations, Substitutions and Add-Ins
• What to Serve with Peach and Prosciutto Salad
• Best Wine Pairings
• Storage Instructions
• FAQ's
• More Summer Recipes
• Peach and Prosciutto Salad with Mozzarella and Basil

Why You'll Love This Peach and Prosciutto Salad

• Fresh and seasonal - Made with sweet, juicy summer peaches.
• Quick and no-cook - Ready in about 20 minutes, with no oven needed.
• Sweet, salty, and creamy - Peaches, prosciutto, and mozzarella are such a delicious combination.
• Perfect for entertaining - Simple to make but beautiful enough for guests.

Ingredients You'll Need

This peach prosciutto salad uses simple summer ingredients that come together beautifully with a light balsamic dressing.

• Ripe peaches - Choose peaches that are fragrant, ripe, and juicy, but still slightly firm so they hold their shape when wrapped with prosciutto.
• Prosciutto or Parma ham - Adds a delicate salty flavor that balances the sweetness of the peaches.
• Mixed baby lettuce - We like using a mix of baby butter lettuce, arugula, and fresh basil leaves for a tender, peppery, fragrant base.
• Fresh basil - Adds a classic summer flavor that works beautifully with peaches, mozzarella, and balsamic.
• Fresh mozzarella pearls - Creamy mozzarella adds richness and a soft texture.
• Toasted pine nuts - These add a delicate crunch and nutty flavor. For step-by-step tips, see our guide on How to Toast Pine Nuts. 
• Freshly ground black pepper - Adds a little warmth and brings the flavors together.
• Balsamic vinaigrette - A simple balsamic dressing ties everything together. You can also finish the salad with a little balsamic glaze if you prefer a sweeter, thicker drizzle.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Seasonality: When Are Peaches in Season?

Peaches are typically in season from late spring through early fall, making them a perfect ingredient for summer salads like this one.

During peak summer, they're especially juicy, fragrant, and sweet, which makes simple dishes like this peach and prosciutto salad really shine.

For this recipe, look for peaches that are ripe but still slightly firm so they're easy to slice into wedges and wrap with prosciutto.

Want to learn more about seasonal produce? Explore the USDA Seasonal Produce Guide.

Prosciutto vs Parma Ham

Prosciutto is the Italian word for ham, but in recipes it usually refers to prosciutto crudo - a thinly sliced, salt-cured Italian ham with a delicate savory flavor.

Parma ham, also called Prosciutto di Parma, is a specific type of prosciutto made in the Parma region of Italy. It has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and is produced under strict regional guidelines. You can learn more about the difference between Parma ham and prosciutto in this helpful guide from MasterClass.

For this salad, you can use either prosciutto or Parma ham. Parma ham is lovely if you can find it, but any good-quality, thinly sliced prosciutto will work beautifully.

How to Make Peach and Prosciutto Salad

Prepare the Pine Nuts

• Toast the pine nuts until lightly golden and fragrant. See our guide on How to Toast Pine Nuts using either the stovetop or oven method. Allow the pine nuts to cool completely before adding them to the salad.

Chef's Tip: Toasting pine nuts enhances their nutty flavor and adds a delicate crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft peaches and mozzarella.

Prepare the Peaches

• Cut the peaches into wedges. Wrap each peach wedge with a small strip of prosciutto.

Chef's Tip: Choose peaches that are ripe but still slightly firm so they hold their shape when wrapped and added to the salad.

Dress the Greens

• Place the lettuce mix in a large bowl. Drizzle lightly with Balsamic Vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.

Assemble the Salad

• Arrange the dressed greens on a large serving platter. Add the prosciutto-wrapped peaches evenly across the greens. Scatter the mozzarella pearls over the salad.

Garnish, Serve and Enjoy

• Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the salad and finish with freshly ground black pepper.
• Drizzle with a little extra balsamic vinaigrette if desired and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
• Serve immediately.

Flavor Variations, Substitutions and Add-Ins

This peach mozzarella basil and prosciutto salad is easy to adapt depending on what you have on hand.

• Grill or roast the peaches - This adds a slightly caramelized flavor that works beautifully with the balsamic.
• Use burrata or feta - Burrata makes the salad extra creamy, while feta adds a salty, tangy bite.
• Use nectarines - A lovely substitute for peaches, especially when they're firm and sweet.
• Try Serrano ham - Use it instead of prosciutto for a Spanish-inspired twist.
• Add tomatoes - Cherry tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes add extra color and summer flavor.
• Use balsamic glaze - Drizzle it over the salad for a sweeter, thicker finish.

What to Serve with Peach and Prosciutto Salad

This summer peach salad pairs beautifully with grilled meats, roast chicken, Mediterranean-style mains, and other fresh salads.

• With other summer salads - Serve it as part of a colorful summer spread with our watermelon salad, tomato Caprese salad, Traditional Greek salad, vegetarian Italian pasta salad, or cucumber feta salad.
• Roasted or grilled meats - The sweet peaches and salty prosciutto pair beautifully with roast chicken, grilled lamb, pork tenderloin, or simple grilled steak. Serve it alongside our Mediterranean boneless leg of lamb roast or roasted lemon and herb whole chicken for a fresh summer side.

Best Wine Pairings

This peach and prosciutto salad has sweetness from the peaches, saltiness from the prosciutto, creaminess from the mozzarella, and acidity from the balsamic dressing. A fresh, bright wine works best.

• Dry Rosé - Fresh, crisp, and perfect with peaches and prosciutto.
• Prosecco - Bubbly and refreshing, with enough fruitiness for the peaches.
• Sauvignon Blanc - Bright and citrusy, especially good with basil and balsamic.
• Pinot Grigio - Light, crisp, and easy for summer salads.

Storage Instructions

• Fridge: This salad is best served fresh, especially once the greens have been dressed. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
• Make Ahead: You can toast the pine nuts, and wash the greens ahead of time. For the best texture, slice and wrap the peaches shortly before serving, then assemble and dress the salad just before eating.

FAQ's

More Summer Recipes

If you enjoy fresh, seasonal recipes like this peach salad, you may also like:

• Tomato Bruschetta
• Watermelon Feta Skewers
• Mango Tiramisu with Passion Fruit
• Strawberry Rosé Sangria 

This peach and prosciutto salad is everything we love about summer cooking - fresh seasonal fruit, simple ingredients, and a beautiful balance of sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy flavors. It's quick to make, pretty, and perfect for celebrating peach season.

Give it a try and let us know in the comments how it turned out! Don't forget to Pin it for later or share it with a friend who loves fresh summer salads.

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.