‘Round these parts, we make a habit of eating salad as main meal once or twice each week. Which, of course, means that I have to be somewhat creative in coming up with several variations. This particular salad doesn’t showcase my most creative recipe-building skills. Rather, it showcases one of those recipes that was born out of not wanting to run to the store in order to get dinner on the table. Still, it was quite tasty. The bitter arugula stood in contrast to the sweet berries and pecans. I’d totally make it again.
Arugula salad with grilled chicken, summer berries & candied pecans
Ingredients
- 2 bunches of organic arugula, rinsed and patted dry
- 1 whole chicken breast
- 1 pint strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced
- 1 c candied pecans
- 1 c crumbled feta
- Olive oil & balsamic or vinaigrette of your choice
Instructions
- Start by seasoning the chicken breast with salt and pepper to taste. If you have time, it would be even better if you marinated it in 1/4 olive oil, 1/4 c lemon juice, one Tablespoon Dijon mustard and salt and pepper to taste for about an hour before grilling. In either case, grill the chicken breast until it is cooked thoroughly. Let rest for at least five minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, evenly divide arugula between four salad plates. Top with sliced berries, feta, chicken and candied pecans. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar or the vinaigrette of your choice on top to taste.
My kind of salad! Yum!
For awhile there, we were buying pecans at Costco and “candying” them ourselves. Super easy, super good.
They really are so easy. Not to mention addicting ;)
Yum! I have never candied pecans but I do candy walnuts for an apple gorgonzola salad. I’m now craving salad at 1am.
Oh, that sounds so yummy, too. What kind of dressing do you use on that?
I never have exact recipes, I just throw things in. Usually olive oil, white wine vinegar, garlic, basil, salt and sugar.
Salad is a copycat of one from Buca di Beppo. I can replicate that perfectly, but my dressing is different. Still delicious though!