Beetroot and Black Lentil Salad with Chicken
This gorgeous, colorful supper features succulent chicken thighs, earthy black lentils, and chioggia beets that are roasted to coax out their sweetness, all on a bed of fresh greens with an orange vinaigrette for brightness.
Servings
Produce
Red Romaine Lettuce
4 2 oz
Mustard Greens
2 1 oz
Beets (Organic)
16 8 oz
Thyme
0.15 0.08 oz
Tangerines
2 1 Whole
Red Onion (Organic)
1/2 0.25 Whole
Protein & more
Black lentils
1 0.5 cup
Feta cheese
1.5 0.75 oz
Chicken thighs
1 0.5 lb
Pantry items
Sea salt
1 0.5 teaspoon
Olive oil
2 1 tablespoon
Black pepper
1/4 0.125 teaspoon
Spice mix
Thyme and Orange Vinaigrette
Orange juice
2 1 tablespoon
Olive oil
4 2 tablespoon
Apple cider vinegar
2 1 teaspoon
Dijon mustard
1 0.5 teaspoon
Minced Garlic
1 0.5 Clove
Honey
2 1 teaspoon
Prep ahead (optional)
a. Chop lettuce and mustard greens bite-sized. b. Peel and chop beets into ¼”-thick coins. c. Slice ends off tangerines, place flat-ends down, run knife between skin and pith to peel, and cut out segments. d. Thinly slice red onion. e. Mince thyme leaves, reserve stem.
Instructions
1
Roast beets:
a. Preheat oven to 425°.
b. Add beets (peel, ¼”-thick coins) to medium bowl. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and ¼ tsp salt. Toss to coat.
c. Add in even layer to baking pan; roast about 10 minutes, then flip and cook until tender, another 10-15 minutes.
2
Meanwhile, cook black lentils:
a. Strip leaves from thyme stems and mince. Add thyme leaves to orange vinaigrette; shake vigorously and set aside. Reserve thyme stems.
b. In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add lentils with bay leaf, 2 cups water (1 cup water for 2-person portion), ½ tsp salt, and thyme stems. Stir to combine. Cover and bring to a boil.
c. Immediately reduce heat to medium and cook black lentils until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Compost thyme stems and bay leaf. If any water is left once lentils are tender, drain water.
3
Cook chicken:
a. Portion chicken thighs. Season with ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper.
b. In medium sauté pan over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. When pan is hot but not smoking, add chicken thighs. Cook for 2-3 minutes each side. Continue cooking for another 10-12 minutes, flipping occasionally, until chicken is cooked through. Set aside to rest.
4
Serve:
a. Add half of thyme & orange vinaigrette to lentils. Toss to combine.
b. To large bowl, add green leaf lettuce (tear bite-sized), mustard greens (tear leaves bite-sized), red onion (thinly slice), and tangerine segments (slice ends, place flat-end down, run knife between skin and pith to peel, cut out segments). Add remaining thyme & orange vinaigrette; toss to coat. Divide salad among plates.
c. Top salad with dressed black lentils and beet slices. Garnish with feta.
d. Top with chicken or serve alongside. Pour the wine and enjoy.
Chef's notes
If you aren't a chicken fan, white fish or a pork chop would complement these flavors well. Vegetarians can add walnuts or quinoa for added protein.
All spice mixes and dressings made by Inner Chef from scratch with organic ingredients, local when possible.
This week’s local ingredients across all Inner Chef meal-kits come from:
Gundermann Acres,
Wharton County, TX
Wharton County, TX
Fagan Family Farm
Lone Star Herbs,
League City, TX
League City, TX
G&S Groves,
Mission, TX
Mission, TX
The Farm Patch,
Pleasanton, TX
Pleasanton, TX
Kitchen Pride,
Gonzales, TX
Gonzales, TX
Fruitful Hill Farm,
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop, TX
J&B Farms,
Hondo, TX
Hondo, TX
Martinez Farms,
Pleasanton, TX
Pleasanton, TX
Village Farms,
Marfa, TX
Marfa, TX
Animal Farm,
Cat Spring, TX
Cat Spring, TX
Bouldin Food Forest,
Rogers, TX
Rogers, TX
Buena Tierra Farms,
Fredonia, TX
Fredonia, TX
Dilorio Farms,
Hempstead, TX
Hempstead, TX
Engel Farms,
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Good Flow Honey,
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Hairston Creek Farms,
Burnet, TX
Burnet, TX
Hifi Mycology,
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Homestead Gristmill,
Waco, TX
Waco, TX
K. H. Farms,
Poteet, TX
Poteet, TX
Pedernales Valley Farms,
Federicksburg, TX
Federicksburg, TX
Lightsey Farms,
Mexia, TX
Mexia, TX
Texas Olive Ranch,
Carrizo Springs, TX
Carrizo Springs, TX
Thomas Kindle,
Grand Saline, TX
Grand Saline, TX
Top of Texas,
Farwell, TX
Farwell, TX
US Citrus,
Hargill, TX
Hargill, TX
Bella Verdi,
Dripping Springs, TX
Dripping Springs, TX
Country Boy Farms,
Kennard, TX
Kennard, TX
Francis and Thatcher,
Manor, TX
Manor, TX
James Farm,
Prairie Ronde, LA
Prairie Ronde, LA