citrus chicken salad
This citrus chicken salad is my current mood! It’s full of crisp romaine lettuce and bright citrus. The dressing is really the best secret! A green goddess-style dressing that I eat like a dip if there is any left over! Try this and you’ll be happy!
INGREDIENTS
For the chicken:
– 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
– 1/2 tsp salt
– 1/2 tsp pepper
– 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
– 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
– 1 tbsp olive oil
For the dressing:
– 1 avocado
– 1/3 cup roasted or raw cashews
– 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
– 2 tsp Dijon mustard
– 2 cloves garlic
– 2 scallions
– 2 tbsp roughly chopped dill
– 1/2 cup loose basil leaves
– 2 tbsp rice vinegar
– 1/3 cup olive oil
– 3/4 tsp salt
– 1 tsp pepper
For the salad:
– 1 large head romaine lettuce
– 3 oranges, peeled and segmented
– 1 grapefruit, peeled and segmented
– 1/3 cup roasted cashews
– 1 avocado, sliced
– 2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
INSTRUCTIONS
For the chicken:
– Preheat oven to 375°F.
– Sprinkle chicken breast with salt and pepper. Squeeze fresh orange juice on top and brush with Dijon mustard. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breast. Sear until golden brown, 3-4 minutes per side. Once seared on both sides, place in the preheated oven and roast until the chicken registers 160°F. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
For the dressing:
– In a large measuring glass or blender container, combine the avocado, cashews, orange juice, Dijon mustard, garlic cloves, scallion, dill, basil, rice vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. If too thick, add 1 tbsp water until desired consistency. Dressing can be made one day in advance and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dressing will oxidize and darken with the avocado.
For the salad:
– Remove large ribs from the lettuce and chop. Place chopped lettuce on a large platter and dress with the desired amount of dressing. Top with the sliced chicken, segmented oranges and grapefruit, sliced avocado, cashews, and goat cheese. Serve immediately.
