Tag: balsamic

Basil Quinoa Chicken Salad

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Refreshing side or lunch option with a range of different ingredients! Inspired by a dish I had at a local Mediterranean restaurant.

Ingredients

serves 3-4

2 Chicken Breasts

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa (or rice alternative)

1 cup Chicken Broth

1/2 bundle of asparagus

Seeds from one pomegrante

8-9 leaves fresh basil

1 1/2 Tbs Lemongrass Mint Balsamic

2 Tbs olive oil

salt, pepper for seasoning

  1. Bake, stir fry or grill chicken.  Another option is to just buy rotisserie chicken breast and chop up into small pieces.
  2. Cook quinoa, typically one part quinoa to 2 parts water.  I use chicken broth instead of water to add flavor.
  3. Wash, cut and boil water and add the asparagus in a pot for 5-6 minutes until mildly tender.
  4. Cut pomegrante and remove seed, throughly picking off the white, peel around the seeds
  5. Add all ingredients into a bowl.  Chop up basil and mix with balsamic and olive oil.  Add the dressing to the mixture and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Salt pepper and ENJOY!

Strawberry Fields Chicken Salad

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There is nothing better than fresh farmers market strawberries.  So many great recipes to use them for, or finishing the whole carton in one sitting is another option.  Strawberry, avocado chicken salad is one of my favorites.  I pair it with my aunts poppy seed salad dressing and it hits the spot for any bbq event or simple lunch.

Ingredients

(2 servings)

2 chicken breasts

2 cups spinach

1 avocado

1 cup sliced strawberries

1-2 chopped scallions

1) Coat chicken in olive oil.  Grill for about 10 minutes on each side depending on thickness.

2) Lay bed of spinach, top with chilled or hot chicken, strawberries, chopped up avocado, scallions and sugar coated almonds. (Recipe below)

sugar coated almonds

ingredients

1/3 cup chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans

1 tbs coconut oil

1 tbs granulated sugar

1) put all ingredients in a pan at medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes stirring constantly to prevent burning them.

Dressings

For this salad I alternate with a balsamic olive oil dressing or poppy seed. For the Balsamic dressing I use my Olive Oil Company balsamic and mix with a tablespoon of my citrus ginger olive oil.  For a almond poppy seed dressing mix 1 tsp poppy seeds, 1 tsp almond extract,  1/4 cup mayo, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 tablespoon canola oil or (avocado oil or grape seed oil).  Mix it up and enjoy!