Chopped Apple & Chicken Salad w/ Clementine Dressing

by Kiran on April 23, 2013 · 67 comments

in Chicken, Salads

I‘m not going to lie. This salad was made and devoured last winter. And it has been sitting all this while in the back-burner of an unorganized recipe folder on my computer.

So, I’m totally taking the blame for it. To be precise, I’m blaming my organizational skills.

And the fact that we devoured this cold salad in winter, boggles my mind until this day.

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The salad was inspired by a salad I had while visiting LA a few months ago. The Husband brought me lunch one day from this fantastic salad bar, that serves the freshest chopped salad with all the fixins imaginable.

And unfortunately, we can’t rake our brain enough to remember the name of that place. Of course, the food can never be forgotten. There were layers or flavors, textures and ingredients. I could literally eat this salad everyday and I was itching to recreate this bounty at home — and took so much time to post about it.

Duh.

Better late than never, right? Just trying to console myself here. While I do that, can you please eat your weight in this salad?

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Obviously it’s almost impossible to hunt down honey crisp apples or clementines this time of the year. I’d recommend going for any sweet apples, cara cara oranges, grapefruit and hunker down those pomegranate arils that is sold in the fruit aisle.

While you are “at it”, swallow the pride and look for pre-sliced veggies and grilled chicken breasts because let me tell you something — let’s not waste anymore precious time making this salad. You would need all the help you can get from your grocer.

Do I really need to stress on the urgency here, people?

Make it. Pronto.

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 3 oz baby romaine mix
  • 3 oz baby kale leaves
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 3 honey crisp apples, sliced
  • 1 small head of broccoli, sliced and steamed
  • 2 grilled chicken breasts or rottiserie chicken, sliced
  • 1 cup fresh edamame, shelled
  • 4 oz fresh pomegranate arils
  • 2 oz dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup toasted raw, unsalted sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup toasted raw, unsalted sunflower seeds

Dressing:

  • 1 tsp clementine zest
  • 2 small clementines, juiced
  • 2 tsp mustard
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup walnut or extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

  1. Dump all ingredients in a huge salad bowl. Toss everything.
  2. Prepare dressing by adding all ingredients in a mason jar, twist the cap on and shake it until the dressing emulsifies.
  3. Drizzle dressing over salad. Toss and serve immediately.

 

Love it when a recipe calls for “dumping, drizzling and tossing” all in 3 simple steps! Can’t get any easier than that. Have a great week my friends 🙂

What is your favorite “off season” produce that you are missing right now?

 

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Comments on this entry are closed.

1 Rosa April 23, 2013 at 10:23 AM

A magnificent salad! It must taste wonderful. Perfectly presented and photographed.

Cheers,

Rosa

2 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:08 AM

Rosa — thank you so much my dear friend 🙂

3 Monica April 23, 2013 at 11:16 AM

Looks like a lovely salad. I love it when I’m inspired by something I ate at a restaurant or while on vacation somewhere. And there’s definitely room for salad and fresh ingredients all year round, no matter the temperature!
Monica recently posted..Chocolate crunch bars (no bake)

4 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:08 AM

Monica — thank you and ditto!

5 Laura (Tutti Dolci) April 23, 2013 at 12:05 PM

I certainly want to eat my weight in this salad! Love the clementine dressing.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..best lemon cupcakes

6 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:11 AM

Laura — lol, thank you!

7 dixya@food, pleasure, and health April 23, 2013 at 12:17 PM

i love so many contrasting textures in this salad 🙂
dixya@food, pleasure, and health recently posted..Low Key… + Caprese Quinoa Salad #MIMM

8 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:12 AM

Dixya — thank you!

9 Mallika April 23, 2013 at 2:55 PM

Is this post a year old Kiran? Yet it looks so fresh and beautiful! Love the bright, peppy greens paired with fruits. I may prefer to leave the chicken out though!
Mallika recently posted..Baby Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad with Raw Mango Dressing

10 Kiran April 23, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Mallika — it’s not a year old “post”. The recipe was photographed last November but I forgot to post about it until now. And yes, it’s as delicious without any meat 🙂

11 rebecca April 23, 2013 at 5:18 PM

this looks amazing love your salads
rebecca recently posted..Roasted Vegetable and Farro Salad

12 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:13 AM

Rebecca — thank you so much, friend 🙂

13 Gemma @andgeesaid April 23, 2013 at 8:32 PM

yum. yum yum yum!!
this looks so good! i’m having difficulty squeezing all of your recipes that i love into our dinner schedules! there are just so many fabulous things (: and such beautiful photos, as usual!
and don’t worry.. i have many unorganized recipe folders on my computer too! whoops!
have a wonderful day!! xxx
Gemma @andgeesaid recently posted..Red Velvet Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

14 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:18 AM

Gemma — thank you so much. I hope you get to try some recipes soon 🙂

ps: I’m finding it very hard to comment on your blog with google plus.

15 Kitchen Belleicious April 23, 2013 at 10:27 PM

Apples and chicken go great together and this dressing makes it perfect. Your pictures are just breathtaking
Kitchen Belleicious recently posted..Quaker Big Chewy Granola Bars=Chocolate Fondue

16 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:18 AM

Jessica — thank you so much my dear. Hope you are feeling well 🙂

17 ashley - baker by nature April 23, 2013 at 11:18 PM

I cannot wait for berries and tomatoes to be in season! It’s all I plan on eating for the entire summer (sike!).

This salad is so lovely, Kiran! I’m a big fan of all the tastes and textures you’ve got going on in it.
ashley – baker by nature recently posted..(Gluten Free) Double Berry Upside Down Cake

18 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:23 AM

Ashley — thank you my dear. can you sense my excitement for summer as well? 😀

19 Raymund April 24, 2013 at 2:49 AM

Thats a nice looking salad, I love the edamame and cranberries on it
Raymund recently posted..Boiled Crabs with Fennel

20 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:23 AM

Raymund — thank you! the nuts and seeds definitely adds nice texture and color 🙂

21 Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella April 24, 2013 at 3:27 AM

Hehe I know to do what I am told! This salad looks fantastic and we can get most of those things here 😀
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Rainbow Meringue Kisses & Drumroll…My Book Is Out!!

22 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:24 AM

Lorraine — great! now go and make it 😉

23 Maria April 24, 2013 at 4:18 AM

Loved your version of salad wanna right now!
Maria recently posted..Ragi Dosa Recipe

24 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:25 AM

Maria — thank you and it’s so simple to pull together for a satisfying meal 🙂

25 Ina gawne April 24, 2013 at 9:10 AM

Yummm…that is my kind of salad – one I could eat everyday too!
Ina gawne recently posted..ASPARAGUS SEASON

26 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:28 AM

Ina — ditto!

27 Carolyn Chan April 24, 2013 at 9:41 AM

I love apples in salads ! You need something sweet almost as a treat for eating something so green and healthy haha
Carolyn Chan recently posted..The Handburger

28 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:30 AM

Carolyn — lol, i love your apple and salad analogy 😀

29 Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking April 24, 2013 at 11:37 AM

This is such a gorgeous spring salad, Kiran! I absolutely love the combination of chicken, apples and kale, and with your orange dressing I bet this tastes heavenly. Thanks for sharing!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking recently posted..Herb and Citrus Oven Roasted Chicken

30 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:31 AM

Georgia — thank you so much, my dear friend 🙂

31 mycookinghut April 24, 2013 at 2:26 PM

Looks really good! I am all ready for salad. 😉
mycookinghut recently posted..Jaipur, Rajasthan

32 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:31 AM

leemei — thanks and me too 😉

33 Juliana April 24, 2013 at 2:53 PM

Beautiful salad Kiran…I love the dressing…and the photos are gorgeous.
Hope you are having a fantastic week 🙂
Juliana recently posted..Maple Candied Walnut

34 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:32 AM

Juliana — thank you so much my dear 🙂

35 Choc Chip Uru April 24, 2013 at 4:27 PM

Beautiful and a very refreshing ingredient list 🙂
As always love the photos!

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..CCU Undercover: Enigma at the Piazza

36 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:33 AM

CCU — thank you 🙂

37 Mr. & Mrs. P April 24, 2013 at 5:01 PM

Lovely recipe!! We are in love with you photography style!! What a beautiful plate in the last photo
Mr. & Mrs. P recently posted..Engagement Photo Session at Disney

38 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:33 AM

Mr. & Mrs. P — aww, thank you so so much 🙂

39 Sunnie@moderngirlnutrition April 24, 2013 at 6:22 PM

Props to you for finding something to do with clementines other than eating them plain- this sounds amazing!
Sunnie@moderngirlnutrition recently posted..In Time

40 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:34 AM

Sunnie — Thank you! I love making something out of citrus. Eating it plain just isn’t appealing anymore 🙂

41 john@kitchenriffs April 24, 2013 at 6:37 PM

I can certainly see eating this in winter – we eat so much hearty food, that sometimes we want a break (and winter in Florida is much like spring in some parts of the US!). But now with spring here, this is perfect. I’ve been craving salads! Really nice – thanks.
john@kitchenriffs recently posted..Homemade Mayonnaise

42 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:35 AM

John — thank you! and you’d be surprised how cold it can get here in Florida during winter. Time to break out the salads since it’s Spring 🙂

43 Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies April 24, 2013 at 7:11 PM

Clementine dressing? Sign me up! 😀 I have been trying to eat more salads lately and a dressing like that would definitely help. 🙂 Right now, I’m missing corn, but soon enough it will be in season again!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies recently posted..And now I can finally say it…

44 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:36 AM

Kiersten — I can’t wait for corn season soon! Swoon!

45 Nami | Just One Cookbook April 24, 2013 at 7:52 PM

I’m loving your clementine dressing as all of us eat a lot everyday (and still don’t get bored). Love citrus dressing on savory chicken and refreshing apple! Great salad, Kiran!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Chocolate Chip Cookies with Nutella

46 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:38 AM

Nami — thank you my dear. I’ve always believed, salad dressing is so versatile and easy to make. It can get boring with just regular olive oil, salt and pepper. Change is often a pleasant surprise 🙂

47 Anne ~ Uni Homemaker April 24, 2013 at 8:24 PM

What a beautiful salad! I love orange based salad dressing. This looks lovely.
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker recently posted..Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

48 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:41 AM

Anne — thank you so so much 🙂

49 Karen (Back Road Journal) April 25, 2013 at 9:40 AM

This salad looks terrific and clementines are still available in our market.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Grilled Lamb Chops With Tapenade Over Fennel Couscous

50 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:45 AM

Karen — thank you and go make some clementine dressing. So so good 🙂

51 nusrat2010 April 25, 2013 at 1:51 PM

Totally my kinda salad 🙂
Gorgeous shots as always <3

52 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:46 AM

Nusrat — thank you 🙂

53 Nik@ABrownTable April 25, 2013 at 3:36 PM

This is a gorgeous looking salad! I love the idea of the clementines with the chicken, nothing like a delicious citrus flavor.
Nik@ABrownTable recently posted..yogurt and coconut curried mussels

54 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:47 AM

Nik — thank you my friend 🙂

55 Manju @ Manju'sEatingDelights April 25, 2013 at 4:41 PM

What a gorgeous salad. Love the colors and the flavors in it!
Manju @ Manju’sEatingDelights recently posted..Pineapple Upside-down Cake

56 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:49 AM

Manju — thank you so much!

57 Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust April 25, 2013 at 4:47 PM

My mouth instantly started watering when I read the title of the dressing. Delish!

58 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:54 AM

Dorothy — lol, I’m glad that it’s mission accomplished with the drooling 😉

59 Lail | With A Spin April 26, 2013 at 1:20 AM

Gorgeous photos, my friend. Love the clementine dressing.
Lail | With A Spin recently posted..Beautiful Tuscan Cities, Towns and Villages

60 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:56 AM

Lail — thank you so much, my friend 🙂

61 Matt @ The Athlete's Plate April 26, 2013 at 7:26 PM

Looks like a great salad!
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..Mini #Whole30

62 Kiran April 27, 2013 at 1:58 AM

Matt — 🙂

63 Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings April 29, 2013 at 12:27 AM

As usual, loving the food, the plates, the props. Oh did I say that I love your plates? YES! Ahhh…everything here is stunningly gorgeous! Have a good week ahead!
Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings recently posted..Clams in Chili-Cilantro Oil

64 Kiran May 1, 2013 at 10:54 PM

Jen — thank you so so much my dear. You always make me smile with your comments 🙂

65 Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb April 29, 2013 at 7:09 AM

A lovely refreshing salad for the senses. Luckily we still get clementines here. =)

66 Kiran May 1, 2013 at 10:54 PM

Helene — go and make it 😀

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