Chicken and Peach Salad

Chicken salads, especially when pared with an in season fruit are so tasty, versatile and easy, great for summer dinners or as side dishes when entertaining. A good BBQ chicken is always a time saver  but cooking chicken breast or tenderloins will allow you to add another depth of flavor.

This salad can be adapted to suit your own taste. Use salad leaves that you prefer, choose a fruit that you like, see some of my suggestions below.

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Total Time: 30mins Servings: 4 as a light meal - 6 as a side dish

Ingredients

For the Salad

• 4 cups (120g) mixed salad greens (e.g. iceburg lettuce, rocket, spinach)

• 2 cups (300g) cooked chicken, coarsely chopped

• 2 ripe peaches, sliced and grilled

• 3 rashers (85g) pancetta, crisped (or bacon)

• 1/2 cup (75g) crumbled feta cheese (or parmesan)

• 1/4 cup (30g) toasted walnuts or almonds

  
  

Home made Chicken Marinade & Dressing

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt to taste

Shortcut dressing

• (For store bought BBQ Chicken)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp honey

• Salt and pepper to taste.

Method

Prepare Chicken

• Option 1 (Store-bought): Remove meat from BBQ chicken and chop coursely.

• Option 2 (Homemade): Whisk marinade ingredients. Coat 2 chicken breasts (450g) with half the marinade; grill 6-8 mins/side. Reserve remaining marinade.

• Grill & Crisp Components

  • Grill peach slices 2-3 mins/side until charred.

  • Cook pancetta in a pan until crisp (or bake at 200°C for 12 mins).

• Make Dressing

  • Homemade Chicken Version: Add an extra tbsp of olive oil and salt to reserved marinade; whisk.

  • Store-bought Chicken Version: Whisk all shortcut dressing ingredients.

• Assemble Salad

  In a large bowl, layer: Salad greens, grilled chicken, peaches, pancetta, feta and nuts. Drizzle with a little of the dressing and toss gently. Serve extra dressing on the side.

Tips:

• Any seasonal fruit could be used in this salad, grilled nectarines or plumbs or try uncooked fresh fruit such as grapes, for added acidity and sweetness.