Summer Peach Salad with Lentils

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This Summer Peach Salad with Lentils is the perfect recipe for a hot, summery day. It has juicy, ripe peaches and nectarines combined with crunchy cucumbers, tangy cherry tomatoes, red onions, fresh mint, salad turnips, walnuts and lentils. It truly showcases the season's best in a quick and easy, no cook recipe that puts peaches together with earthy lentils for a salad recipe that everyone will be asking for.

close up of summer peach sale with lentils, salad turnips, onions, nectarines and cucumbers

What is a Summer Peach Salad?

A summer peach salad showcases peaches at their pinnacle of ripeness. For me peachy salads are the high point of the season. Juicy, fresh and sweet fruit is paired with savory and salty elements to emphasize their delicious flavor. A crunchy element like nuts gives a nice contrast to the soft peach flesh, and the bite of onion can really bring out the exquisite sweetness. Dress them in a punchy vinaigrette that is highlighted with fresh herbs makes these seasonal stone fruit shine bright.

Why you'll love this RECIPE

SO MUCH FLAVOR! Sweet peaches and nectarines, tangy cherry tomatoes, earthy lentils and salad turnips, spicy red onion, a sweet and tangy dressing, this salad recipe is just screaming summer
No Cook recipe: this salad requires zero cooking, no need to heat up the kitchen. It's the perfect recipe for hot summer days and nights
Easy recipe that is quick to make and beginner friendly
Drinkably delicious dressing: I find the combo of red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar with a little pure maple syrup for sweetness is the best balance of tangy, sweet and puckery vinaigrette
Texture lovers will enjoy the crunch of walnuts, the crisp cucumbers, the pop of cherry tomatoes, crispy salad turnips, and tender lentils and peaches. Every bit is full of textural interest
Gluten Free recipe, Plant-based and Grain-free salad
Decent source of Plant-based Protein, Iron and Fiber: it is equal parts delicious and good for you.

Peaches Tip

When selecting peaches and nectarines, choose some that are soft and ripe to enjoy right away and a few that are harder that will ripen on the counter in a couple of days. That way you will have peaches of varying degrees of ripeness to enjoy gradually rather than having them all ripen and need to be eaten on the same day.

If you have too many ripe peaches, consider putting some in the refrigerator. While it won't stop them from turning completely, it will slow them down in the process significantly. That way you can catch up!

ingredients for summer peach salad with lentils in a flat lay with cucumber, cherry tomato, mint, lentils, walnuts peaches and nectarines, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, pure maple syrup and extra virgin olive oil

Summer Peach Salad Ingredients

This salad is the perfect recipe for summer. Showcasing so many of summer's finest fruits and veggies is what makes this the best recipe fore pach season

Peaches and Nectarines: I like to use a combo of the two for my salad. Peaches have the soft and fuzzy skin, and bright yellow color and if you can find them, smooth skinned, white nectarines are a great compliment.
Canned Lentils- Brown or Green canned lentils will do. These lentils are tender yet still meaty.
Cherry tomatoes and English Cucumber: the famous summer garden duo that everyone loves. Fresh, hydrating and abundant.
Salad Turnips: these are kind of niche, farmer's market haul items. If they are not available, any type of radish will do. Sliced thin, they are earthy and a little spice, but they marinate in the dressing and taste amazing.
Red Onion: for a nice spicy bite to contrast with the sweet peaches, you may think it is an odd combo but I encourage you to give it a try. The onions marinate and soften in the vinegar and taste so good!
Fresh Mint: or whichever herbs you prefer. Most of us have more than enough mint in the summertime! But you can substitute parsley, cilantro, dill or basil for delicious variations
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: to give the dressing that silky mouth feel
Red Wine Vinegar and Balsamic Vinegar: the backbone of the tart and pucker dressing
Pure Maple Syrup: to balance out the tang with mild sweetness
Salt and Pepper

Cucumber tip: I like to peel and deseed the cucumber because I enjoy the texture more without the seeds. If you don't want to remove the seeds I won't judge. Feel free to cut them in rounds, half moons or any way you prefer.

wide angle view of summer peach salad with lentils

How to Make a Summer Peach Salad

Making this peach salad is really easy. It's as simple as mixing the dressing up, doing a little chopping and assembling. Even a beginner cook can make this incredibly delicious summer recipe.

First, make the dressing in the same bowl that you will be making the salad. Add the extra virgin olive oil, red wine and balsamic vinegars, pure maple, salt and pepper and whisk until combined. Then add the onions, toss and let marinate while you prepare the other ingredients.
Once everything is chopped, you will add the lentils, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, walnuts, salad turnip, peaches and nectarines to the bowl with the marinating onions. Toss until combined.

Tips for Making the Best Summer Salad

Fresh is best: always select the freshest produce for a salad recipe. Over ripe and wilted veggies are better used in cooked presentations like soups or stir fries. Mushy fruits can be frozen instead and given new life in smoothies.
Use a sharp knife or mandolin for cutting your vegetables and fruits. Dull knives make cooking more difficult, less efficient and quite possibly damages the surface so much that it will spoil faster.
Add more veggies! You can't go wrong with any veggie you have on hand. Roasted cauliflower or potatoes, broccoli or green beans. Even sautéed zucchini would be a great addition to this summery meal. Whatever veggies you have busting out of the garden will always taste best.
Don't have stone fruits? No problem! Switch out the peaches and nectarines for ripe cantaloupe melon or mango for a delicious twist.
Nut allergy? Leave out the walnuts and sub in some pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for a more allergy friendly crunch.
Switch out the lentils for beans like chickpeas or white beans for an east variation

FAQs

What should I serve with a Summer Peach Salad?

This salad is delicious and filling on its own thanks to the lentils. But it is the perfect side salad for grilled proteins at summer barbecues. Or for a light yet filling dinner serve it over greens and top it with your favorite protein or veggie burger for extra protein.

Can I make a Summer Peach Salad ahead of time?

The short answer is yes but not too far ahead if you are making for a party or event. For peak flavor, presentation and freshness, this salad is the best if consumed within 4-5 hours from preparation. But that being said, it will still taste very good 1-2 days later. The leftovers are fantastic, they just do not look as pretty as when freshly made.

What is a salad turnip?

Salad turnips look like big white radishes but they have a slight "turnipy" taste that is very distinct. They are tender and crunchy and can be eaten raw like a radish. I use them the same way that I would use a radish in salad, sliced thin and with a delicious dressing.

Do I have to use canned lentils?

Absolutely not! If you prefer to cook some brown or green lentils until they are tender, instead of opening a can, more power to you! I have been loving the convenience of canned lentils this summer. I know they only take around 20 minutes to cook from dried, but I love this easy and quick option.

Other Delicious Summer Salad Recipes

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