Chicken Salad with Strawberry Dressing

 

 

Ingredients

 

8 ounces  thin asparagus, stem ends snapped off, cut into 2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)

1/2 pound  sugar snap peas, stemmed (2 cups) (see Tip)

8 ounces  snow peas, stemmed (2 cups)

2 tablespoons  fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon  almond oil (see Note), or canola oil

1/4 teaspoon  salt

1/4 teaspoon  freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup  chopped scallions

12 ounces  boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed

2 teaspoons  canola oil

1 teaspoon  salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning

  Fresh Strawberry Dressing, (recipe follows)

1/4 cup  sliced almonds, toasted

4   whole strawberries, for garnish

Directions

1. Put a large pot of water on to boil for cooking vegetables. Prepare a grill or preheat broiler.

2. Blanch asparagus, sugar snaps and snow peas in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water to refresh, then blot dry with paper towels. Whisk lemon juice, almond oil (or canola oil), salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the vegetables and scallions; toss to coat.

3. Rub chicken with canola oil and sprinkle with lemon-pepper seasoning. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the chicken and cook until lightly browned and no longer pink in the center, about 6 minutes per side. (Alternatively, broil the chicken on an oiled broiler pan 4 to 6 inches from the heat source until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.) Let rest for 5 minutes.

4. Cut the chicken crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Divide the vegetable mixture among 4 plates. Arrange the chicken over the vegetables. Spoon about 3 tablespoons Fresh Strawberry Dressing over each salad. Sprinkle with almonds and garnish each serving with a strawberry. Serve immediately.

Tips:
Tip: Sugar snaps have a fibrous seam on the inside curve. To remove it, grasp the stem protruding from one end and pull it down the inside curve as if you were unzipping the pea.

Note: Almond oil is an unrefined oil pressed from almonds. You can find it in many supermarkets and natural-foods stores. Store it in the refrigerator.

Tip: To oil the grill rack: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.) When grilling delicate foods like tofu and fish, it is helpful to spray the food with cooking spray.

 

 

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Blanch the vegetables up to 4 hours before serving; store in the refrigerator under barely moistened paper towels.

 

Dressing

 

Ingredients

1 cup  strawberries, (6 large berries), rinsed, hulled and sliced

1 tablespoon  balsamic vinegar

3/4 teaspoon  freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon  stevia

1/4 teaspoon  salt

2 tablespoons  almond oil, (see Note) or canola oil

Directions

1. Place strawberries, vinegar, pepper, stevia and salt in a blender or food processor; process until pureed, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides. Add oil and process until smooth.