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Zesty Mango Chicken Salad Recipe

Zesty Mango Chicken Salad Recipe


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4.6 from 32 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 7 1x

Description

Delightful Mango Bliss Chicken Salad delivers tropical flavors with Caribbean-inspired zest. Crisp lettuce, tender chicken, and sweet mango pieces create a refreshing meal perfect for summer lunches.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (454 g) cooked chicken breasts, sliced
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 6 cups romaine lettuce, rinsed, dried, and chopped
  • 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 English cucumber, sliced and cut into half moons
  • 1 mango, pitted, peeled, and diced
  • ⅓ cup diced red onion
  • ¼ cup parsley or cilantro, finely chopped
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsps lemon juice
  • 1 to 2 tbsps honey (to taste)
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • ½ tsp salt (to taste)
  • ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Salad Foundation: Layer a lush base of romaine lettuce and spinach in a generous serving bowl, creating a verdant canvas for the culinary composition.
  2. Protein Placement: Distribute grilled chicken strips evenly across the leafy terrain, ensuring a harmonious protein presence in every forkful.
  3. Tropical Accent: Intersperse ripe mango chunks and diced tomatoes throughout the salad, introducing bursts of sweet and tangy flavors that dance with the savory chicken.
  4. Crisp Elements: Incorporate thinly sliced cucumber rounds and delicate red onion slivers to provide textural contrast and aromatic depth.
  5. Dressing Preparation: Whisk extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic into a silky emulsion, seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to elevate the flavor profile.
  6. Final Assembly: Drizzle the vibrant dressing over the salad, gently tossing to ensure each ingredient is luxuriously coated, then serve immediately to preserve the crisp, fresh essence of the dish.

Notes

  • Marinate for Flavor: Soak chicken in citrus or herb-infused marinade for at least 30 minutes before grilling to enhance tenderness and depth of taste.
  • Mango Ripeness Matters: Select mangoes that yield slightly to gentle pressure, indicating peak sweetness and optimal texture for the salad.
  • Dressing Emulsion Technique: Whisk dressing ingredients vigorously to create a smooth, well-blended sauce that coats ingredients evenly without separating.
  • Serving Temperature Tip: Serve salad immediately after dressing to preserve crisp lettuce texture and prevent wilting from excess moisture.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 7
  • Calories: 250
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 17 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 15 g
  • Cholesterol: 60 mg