Cajun Blackened Chicken Chopped Entrée Salad


Ingredients:

Cajun Blackened Chicken

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 x 8-ounce breasts)

1 tablespoon avocado oil

1 teaspoon no-salt-added Cajun or Creole seasoning

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

 

Tangy Lemon Salad Dressing

1/3 cup canned, drained cannellini or other white beans*

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon (3 tablespoons)

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

 

Salad

1 (5-ounce) bag chopped Romaine lettuce

3 cups packed baby arugula (3 ounces)

1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro or sliced basil

3/4 cup sliced English cucumber

3/4 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise

1 small avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced

3 large hardboiled eggs

1/4 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese or salted sunflower seeds

 

Instructions:

1. Heat a large cast iron or other stick-resistant skillet over medium-high heat. Brush

the chicken completely with the oil. Rub the top sides with the Cajun seasoning and

salt. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook until well browned (blackened) on

both sides and well done (165°F internal temperature), about 7 to 8 minutes per

side. (Hint: Use your kitchen fan.) Transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board, let

stand 5 to 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute, then cut into several slices each.

Alternatively, chill until ready to serve, then slice when arranging salads.

 

2. In a blender, puree together all Tangy Lemon Salad Dressing ingredients like a

smoothie. Set aside.

 

3. On three individual platters or meal bowls, arrange the salads using the lettuce, arugula,

cilantro, cucumber, blackened chicken, tomatoes, avocado, and hardboiledeggs. Sprinkle with

salt and parmesan cheese or pepitas.

 

4. Drizzle with the salad dressing or serve it on the side.

 

*Use the remaining canned white beans for another culinary purpose, such as pureed

into a white bean hummus or enjoyed in Cauliflower Lover’s Soup recipe.

 

Serves: 3

Protein: 45

Calories: 658