Summer Stone Fruit Salad

This Summer Stone Fruit Salad is the ultimate summer dish! Completely refreshing and full of flavor, all you need are 15 minutes to put it together.

Jump to:

• A quick and easy summer fruit salad
• What is stone fruit?
• When is stone fruit in season?
• Summer salad ingredients
• How to make a summer stone fruit salad
• Customization tips
• More summery stone fruit recipes to try
• Summer Stone Fruit Salad

A quick and easy summer fruit salad

The hot weather and sunny days of summer call for fresh fruit. Whether you layer it on a cake, dry them out for decoration, or use the extras to make homemade jam, you can never go wrong with an abundance of fruit. Stone fruit, in particular, is perfect for summer!

I always turn to this Summer Stone Fruit Salad the minute stone fruits (like plums, peaches, pluots, and apricots) come into season. Not only does this salad take minutes to assemble, but it’s completely refreshing and elegant! Make it a part of the spread at your backyard party, barbecue, or Fourth of July celebration.

Quartered plums and pluots are dressed in a simple olive oil and balsamic dressing before being topped with fresh thyme. While I chose to keep things simple and elegant, you can go all out with as many summery and refreshing additions as you like. Keep scrolling to learn how to make the summer fruit salad of your dreams!

What is stone fruit?

Stone fruit (AKA drupes) is a variety of fruit that contains one large stone or pit in the middle. The skin of the fruit is typically fuzzy (like a peach) or smooth. Some of the most common stone fruits are peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, and apricots.

When is stone fruit in season?

This will depend on where you live, but here in the USA, stone fruit is at its best from late spring to early fall. The best way to tell if your stone fruit is ripe is by smell. If the fruit is very aromatic and sweet-smelling, it’s ready to eat!

How to Store Stone Fruit

After purchasing and washing your stone fruit, leave them out at room temperature for a day or two so they have a chance to ripen. You'll be able to tell that they're ready when they become slightly tender to the touch. Once ripe, you can place them in the fridge to prolong their shelf life!

Summer salad ingredients

Don't be afraid to get creative here. Use the stone fruit of your choice and add even more flavor enhancers. Use these ingredients as a simple guide:

• Stone fruit - I used plums and pluots to make this salad but you can substitute them for anything you like, such as cherries, peaches, apricots, and more. Different shapes, colors, and sizes will give the salad a show-stopping contrast! Take a trip to your local farmer's market to see what’s in season or what looks delicious.

• Olive oil - Instead of making a homemade vinaigrette or salad dressing, a drizzle of olive oil on top will give this salad a satisfying, yet subtle fatty flavor.

• Balsamic glaze - A thick balsamic glaze is wonderfully acidic and a slightly sweet addition to the dish.

• Thyme - Top the salad with fresh thyme (or basil, mint, or oregano) to add flavor, freshness, and aroma.
• Salt and pepper - A little of each will round out all of the flavors.

How to make a summer stone fruit salad

Need a refreshing salad in a pinch? This quick and easy fruit salad is ready to enjoy after two simple steps:

Step 1: Prepare the fruit. Chop the stone fruit into quarters and arrange them on a serving plate.

Step 2: Assemble. Drizzle some olive oil and balsamic glaze on top, then add the thyme, salt, and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Customization tips

Get creative with the flavors, toppings, add-ins, and more! There’s a lot of wiggle room in stone fruit salad recipes. You just have to know where to start:

• Grilled stone fruit salad - You can grill halved peaches, plums, pluots, and nectarines to char the flesh, deepen the flavor, and add a caramelized crust.
• Add leafy greens: Assemble the salad with arugula, kale, spinach, or romaine lettuce to make each serving more substantial.
• Make it extra filling: Toss a little bit of quinoa, farro, or barley in the salad for protein.
• Add cheese: Creamy bites of fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, feta cheese, or burrata will really enhance each bite.
• Add more toppings: Like crushed nuts, different herbs, seeds, hemp hearts, or microgreens.
• Salad dressing: Keep it simple with olive oil and balsamic, or add bright flavors with a homemade salad dressing or vinaigrette. A dressing that’s sweet, tangy, and herby would be perfect for fruit salad.

More summery stone fruit recipes to try

• Honeyed Almond & Plum Cake
• Cherry Ricotta Pound Cake
• Seeded Apricot & Coconut Granola
• Strawberry, Cherry, & Rhubarb Lemonade

As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you try the recipe for this Summer Stone Fruit Salad, please leave a review or share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!