Description
Celebrate the bounty of autumn with this hearty, nutrient-dense main course salad. Featuring crisp Honeycrisp apples, tender spice-rubbed chicken, and a medley of crunchy seeds and nuts, this salad perfectly balances sweet, tart, and savory flavors. Finished with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette, it is a satisfying, wholesome meal that feels like a cozy autumn hug in a bowl, perfect for busy weeknights or a nourishing family dinner.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast filets
0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
0.13 tsp allspice
0.13 tsp cardamom
0.25 cup cassava flour
0.25 cup arrowroot starch
2 tbsp olive oil
6 cups mixed salad greens
2 large Honeycrisp apples, sliced thinly
0.5 cup dried cranberries
0.5 cup toasted pecans
0.25 cup sunflower seeds
0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
In a small bowl, whisk together cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, cassava flour, and arrowroot starch.
Coat the chicken breasts thoroughly in the spice and flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
In a small jar, combine apple cider vinegar, half cup olive oil, honey, and mustard. Shake well to emulsify.
In a large serving bowl, combine the salad greens, sliced apples, dried cranberries, pecans, and sunflower seeds.
Slice the warm chicken and place on top of the salad.
Drizzle with the apple cider vinaigrette just before serving.
Notes
Store the vinaigrette separately in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can swap the pecans for walnuts or sliced almonds depending on your preference. To keep the apples from browning, toss them in a little lemon juice before adding to the salad.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 12
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-searing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg