‍‍Originally, I was going to make peach and prosciutto salad. Which sounds so much better! Hello- alliteration. And then I didn't. Best laid plans.

I even bought peaches...but, I also picked up a few nectarines. In the end, the nectarines looked better; however, this recipe would also work beautifully with peaches.

Growing up, I really only remember eating peaches out of a can. Perhaps it was the fuzz factor, but I don't think we had fresh ones lying around the house. I do know my grandmother would buy them, but I'm not even sure what she did with them. I don't recall peach cobbler, pancakes, or salsa. And we definitely NEVER had fresh nectarines. Now, I will happily drive to an orchard and pick my own, which is a lot more fun!

And the great thing about nectarines and peaches- they can be used in a large variety of dishes! Savory or sweet. Cake, pie, cobbler, bruschetta, salad, soup, salsa...the list goes on! Plus, they can be enjoyed au naturel in a number of ways. Grilled, poached, smoked, baked, or just picked from a tree.

To bring some saltiness to the salad, I added thinly sliced and rolled prosciutto, but bacon or ham would also work nicely! Then, it's walnuts for crunchiness, cheese, which makes everything better, and a light citrus dressing to bring all the flavors together.

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Ingredients for Nectarine & Prosciutto Salad

• Baby Spinach
• Nectarines
• Slices of Prosciutto
• Wedge of Parmesan Cheese
• Walnuts

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What other flavors would work well in a peach or nectarine salad??

Let's see...red onions, cucumbers, corn, basil, avocado, chicken, goat cheese, feta, mozzarella, queso fresco, almonds, pumpkin seeds, pecans... For a dressing, think light and slightly sweet. Citrus, balsamic vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, or a honey-based dressing would work well!

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When is the best time to pick nectarines?

Nectarine season runs from late April through the end of August. When fully ripe, they only last for a few days, so eat immediately.

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