Pear Walnut Chicken Chopped Salad
Pear Walnut Chicken Chopped Salad is a high protein healthy lunch with crisp produce, tender chicken, walnuts, and creamy balsamic Dijon dressing.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast chopped
- 2 ripe pears chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- ¾ cup cucumbers chopped
- ½ cup reduced-fat feta cheese crumbled
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup red onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Creamy Balsamic Dijon Dressing:
- ½ cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon light Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the romaine lettuce, chicken, pears, celery, cucumber, feta cheese, walnuts, red onion, dried cranberries, and parsley.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, water, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Using a wire whisk, mix the dressing until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Serving Size: 2½ Cups
Tips and Tricks
Choose firm-ripe pears - Use pears that give slightly near the stem but still hold their shape. Soft pears can become mushy when the salad is tossed. Toast the walnuts - Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often. This gives them a deeper nutty taste and crisper texture. Prevent the pears from browning - When preparing the salad ahead of time, toss the chopped pears with a small amount of lemon juice.Storing
Refrigerate Separately - Store the salad and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store Dressed Salad - Place leftover dressed salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day. The romaine and pears will soften as they sit. Prepare Ahead - Chop and store the chicken, vegetables, walnuts, cheese, and dressing separately. Add the pears and dressing shortly before serving.Nutrition
Calories: 416kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 43gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 530mgPotassium: 704mgFiber: 4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 6475IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 108mgIron: 3mg
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