Description
A refreshing Chicken Salad with Blackberries and Walnuts combining juicy, sweet blackberries, crunchy toasted walnuts, tender cooked chicken breast, and fresh mixed greens tossed in a bright apple cider vinegar vinaigrette. This vibrant and nutritious salad offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures ideal for lunch, dinner, or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, cooled and diced
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
- 4 cups mixed salad greens
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal)
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook chicken breasts by poaching or grilling until juicy and tender. Let them cool completely before dicing into bite-sized pieces.
- Toast the Walnuts: Lightly toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently until they release their oils and become golden brown.
- Make the Dressing: Whisk together apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified into a bright, balanced vinaigrette.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, mixed greens, fresh blackberries, toasted walnuts, thinly sliced red onion, and shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal). Drizzle the dressing over and gently toss to coat without crushing the berries.
- Serve Immediately: Transfer the salad to a serving platter or individual bowls and enjoy fresh to experience the full textures and flavors at their peak.
Notes
- Use fresh blackberries and greens for maximum flavor and vibrant color.
- Gently toss the salad to avoid breaking delicate blackberries while spreading dressing evenly.
- Toast walnuts lightly until fragrant to prevent bitterness.
- Slightly chill the salad before serving to help flavors meld, but serve soon after to maintain crisp textures.
- Adjust honey and vinegar quantities in the dressing to balance tanginess and sweetness to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Grilling, Toasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken salad, blackberry salad, walnut salad, healthy salad, protein salad, gluten free salad, easy salad recipe
