Endless Summer Salad

Step 1

Combine 1 cup of apple cider vinegar with the water, honey, mustard seeds, 2 teaspoons of salt, ginger, and the bay leaf in a small saucepan over medium-high heat on the stovetop.

Step 2

Cook the mixture until it boils, stirring to ensure that the honey and salt dissolve.

Step 3

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes.

Step 4

Pour the brining mixture into a medium bowl.

Step 5

Add the peaches to the brining mixture.

Step 6

Let the peaches stand in the mixture until softened and pickled, about 30 minutes.

Step 7

Heat the butter or the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 8

Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.

Step 9

Reduce the heat to medium and cover the skillet.

Step 10

Cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and starting to brown, about 10 minutes.

Step 11

Transfer the onions from the heat and let them cool to room temperature, for about 15 minutes.

Step 12

Transfer the onions to a high-powered blender.

Step 13

Add the buttermilk, sour cream, and mayonnaise to the blender and process on low speed to chop the onions.

Step 14

Increase the speed to high and process until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Step 15

Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl.

Step 16

Stir in the chives, dill, parsley, remaining vinegar, remaining salt, and pepper.

Step 17

Chill the dressing until ready to serve.

Step 18

Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.

Step 19

Spray the okra and corn with cooking spray.

Step 20

Grill the corn until charred and tender on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Grill the okra until charred and tender, about 2 minutes per side.

Step 21

Shave the kernels from the corn.

Step 22

Toss the greens, spinach, mint, and basil together in a large bowl.

Step 23

Top the green mixture with the corn kernels, okra, avocado, blueberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled peaches, and sunflower seeds.

Step 24

Drizzle the salad with the Vidalia onion ranch dressing.

Step 25

Serve immediately.