Are you holding onto something steady? Brace yourself because this salad is about to blow away your taste buds. Picture a colorful bowl filled with juicy, tangy nectarines, crisp spinach, crunchy walnuts, and vegan, dairy-free feta. That’s right, folks, we busted out the vegan cheese for this recipe! Those assertive ingredients all come together with an aromatic, slightly sweet basil balsamic dressing. Trust us when we tell you that you’ll want to save this recipe for the future.

Nectarines are a great summer fruit, offering an assortment of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They happen to be rich in vitamin C, which plays an integral role in immune function, and they have vitamin A, which optimizes your complexion and eyesight. Nectarines also contain dietary fiber, which aids digestive function and helps you avoid constipation. While these nutrients are great reasons to enjoy nectarines, their sweet tartness is unmatched. A perfect nectarine will have a slightly crunchy texture and a tart accent that follows refreshing sweetness.

So what’s up with vegan cheese? Well, we didn’t make it, but you can find vegan feta cheese at many grocery stores. The flavor of the “feta” with the basil balsamic dressing is almost too good to be true. The salty flavor of the “feta” complements the sweetness of the balsamic vinegar and maple syrup, in addition to the sweetness of the nectarines. And the walnuts offer the much needed crunch that everyone wants out of a salad. And to reiterate, the vegan feta cheese will blow your mind!