Description
This Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad combines juicy grilled chicken marinated in a blackberry balsamic vinaigrette, crispy fried goat cheese, fresh blackberries, avocado, and nuts. It’s a perfect blend of flavors and textures for a refreshing summer meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Blackberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing:
- 1/2 cup blackberries
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Fried Goat Cheese:
- 8 ounces goat cheese, either sliced into 1/4 inch thick discs or formed into small balls
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or breadcrumbs)
For the Salad:
- 1/2 pound chicken breasts
- 6 cups lettuce
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup walnuts (or pistachios or almonds)
Instructions
For the Blackberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing:
- Puree all the dressing ingredients (blackberries, white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, tamari or soy sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper) in a food processor or with a blender until smooth. Set aside.
For the Fried Goat Cheese:
- Dredge the goat cheese slices or balls in the flour.
- Coat them in the beaten egg.
- Roll them in the panko breadcrumbs until well-coated.
- Fry in oil over medium heat until lightly golden brown, then set aside on paper towels to drain.
For the Salad:
- Marinate the chicken in half of the vinaigrette for 30 minutes to overnight.
- Grill the marinated chicken over medium-high heat until cooked through and slightly charred, about 2-5 minutes per side.
- Set aside the chicken to cool, then slice it.
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, blackberries, avocado slices, red onion, and walnuts.
- Add the sliced grilled chicken and fried goat cheese.
- Drizzle with the remaining blackberry balsamic vinaigrette.
- Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add sriracha to the vinaigrette.
- Substitute blackberries with raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries if desired.
- Best enjoyed while the fried goat cheese is still warm.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling, Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 631 kcal
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 633mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 108mg