Summer Salad: The Star of Every Table in Late June
The summer salad naturally finds its way onto every table in late June here in Provence. As soon as the first heat settles in, the craving for freshness returns. Hot dishes step aside, making room for simple, healthy, and colourful recipes. Provence is overflowing with seasonal treasures: juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, fresh herbs and local cheeses.
This summer cuisine aims to be light, but never bland. Each ingredient has its place; each flavour is revealed by the sun. In this context, the summer salad is far more than just a side dish. It’s a proper meal—generous, balanced, and endlessly adaptable to your tastes.
Provençal Summer Salad Recipe
Here’s a typical version, simple to prepare and perfect for a shaded lunch or a shared dinner. It’s a base you can easily build upon, depending on what you have on hand or what you’ve harvested from the garden.
Ingredients for 4 people:
– 4 ripe tomatoes
– 1 cucumber
– 1 red onion
– 100g of feta or fresh goat’s cheese
– A handful of Provençal black olives
– A few fresh basil leaves
– 1 tablespoon of pine nuts
– Local olive oil
– Balsamic vinegar
– Salt and pepper
Preparation:
Start by washing all the vegetables. Slice the tomatoes and cucumber into thin rounds. Finely slice the red onion. Place everything in a large salad bowl. Add the olives, crumbled cheese, and the pine nuts, lightly toasted in a dry pan to bring a bit of crunch. Finely chop the fresh basil and sprinkle it over the salad. Season with salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil and a few drops of balsamic vinegar. Gently mix everything together. Serve cool, but not chilled.
This summer salad takes just a few minutes to prepare and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Which Wine to Serve with Your Summer Salad?
In Provence, wine is never far from the plate. To accompany a summer salad, choose a wine that’s bright, fresh and fruity. The Plaisir rosé from Domaine des Oullières, with its red fruit aromas and light character, is a perfect match. For a rounder, softer option, the floral and delicate Harmonie blanc pairs beautifully with the Mediterranean flavours in the dish.
With that, your meal becomes a true taste of summer—simple, delicious, and meant to be shared. In Provence, sometimes all it takes is a summer salad and a good glass of wine to feel like you’re truly on holiday.
