Name: Candied Pecan and Herb Chicken Salad
Ingredients: 2 cups pecan halves; 1 egg white; 1 tsp water; ¼ cup maple sugar; ¼ tsp fine sea salt; 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts; ½ tsp sea salt; 1 tsp ground black pepper; 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil or pecan oil; ½ tsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp fresh thyme, minced; 1 tbsp fresh sage, minced; ⅛ tsp red peppers flakes; 3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar, or red wine vinegar; ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; ¼ tsp sea salt; ½ black pepper; 1 tbsp shallots, minced; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 tsp fresh lemon juice; ¼ cup fresh apples; 4 cups mesclun greens or mixed greens; ¼ cup fresh mozzarella, diced or brie cheese; 1 onion, sliced thinly; 3 fresh figs, sliced in half

Submitted by: Lexi Davidson, Lexi's Clean Kitchen

By American Pecans

Candied pecans lend a sweet crunch to balance superb herbed chicken and fresh fruit in this sensational salad recipe.

Candied Pecans:

2 cups pecan halves

1 egg white

1 tsp water

¼ cup maple sugar

¼ tsp fine sea salt

Grilled Herbed Chicken:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

½ tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil or pecan oil

½ tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp fresh thyme, minced

1 tbsp fresh sage, minced

⅛ tsp red peppers flakes

Shallot Vinaigrette:

3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar, or red wine vinegar

⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

¼ tsp sea salt

½ black pepper

1 tbsp shallots, minced

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Other Salad Ingredients:

¼ cup fresh apples

4 cups mesclun greens or mixed greens

¼ cup fresh mozzarella, diced or brie cheese

1 onion, sliced thinly

3 fresh figs, sliced in half

Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and line a half-sheet tray with parchment paper.

Make Candied Pecans:

In a small mixing bowl, beat egg white and water together until frothy. In a separate bowl mix together maple sugar and sea salt and set aside. Toss pecans in the frothed egg white mixture first and then place in spice mixture until evenly coated. Place on sheet tray and bake for 30 minutes. The pecans should be well coated in the maple sugar. Use half in the salad and save half for a snack or other recipe.

Make Grilled Herbed Chicken:

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. In a small mixing bowl, mix together garlic powder, 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, and fresh herbs. Coat chicken well in herb mixture. Place chicken on a greased grill or grill pan for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked through. If using a grill pan, make sure to cover the chicken to ensure even cooking. Take chicken off heat, slice, and set aside until ready to eat.

Make Shallot Vinaigrette:

While chicken cooks, whisk salad dressing ingredients together in a small mixing bowl.

Assemble all salad ingredients on a serving platter of choice. Drizzle with shallot vinaigrette and devour!

CategoryPecans, Salads

Ingredients