Grilling peaches makes them extra juicy and sweet, providing a perfect counterpoint to the grilled chicken and earthy French lentils in this warm entree salad. Dark green French lentils hold their shape during cooking, making them ideal for salads. Find them in the bulk section of the supermarket.
Active time: 15 minutes | Total time: 40 minutes
Grilled chicken, lentils and peach salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (95 g) French green lentils (lentils du puy)
- 3 cups (720 g) water
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tablespoons shallots, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 (6 oz./170 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 large (175g) peaches, halved and pitted
- 1/2 cup (12g) loosely packed mint leaves, torn
- 1/2 cup (12 g) loosely packed basil leaves, torn
Directions
In a small saucepan, combine the lentils with 3 cups (720 g) water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the lentils are just tender, about 25 minutes. Drain.
While the lentils are cooking, preheat a grill to medium heat (375–400°F).
In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, oil, shallots, vinegar, mustard, honey, garlic, and pepper.
Transfer 2 tablespoons of the dressing to another bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Set the remaining dressing aside for serving.
Place the chicken and peach halves (cut side down) on the grill. Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side or until it reaches 165°F (74°C). Grill the peaches for about 5 minutes until lightly charred and soft.
Transfer the chicken and peaches to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice the chicken and cut the peaches into bite-sized pieces.
Distribute the warm lentils on 4 plates. Arrange the chicken and peaches over the top, then sprinkle with mint and basil. Drizzle each salad with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining dressing and serve warm.
Serves: 4 | Serving size: 1/4 of the lentils, 1 chicken breast, 1/2 peach, 1/4 cup herbs, 1 1/2 tbsp dressing
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 490; Total fat: 15g; Saturated fat: 3g; Monounsaturated fat: 8g; Polyunsaturated fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 145mg; Sodium: 617mg; Carbohydrate: 27g; Dietary fiber: 8g; Sugar: 12g; Protein: 59g
Nutritional bonus: Potassium: 640mg; Iron: 15%; Vitamin A: 13%; Calcium: 5%
Originally published July 2018; Updated March 2026