Mixed Green Salad with Chicken & Sour Cherry Vinaigrette

This salad celebrates the fleeting season of sour cherries—it's short and they're extremely perishable, so scoop them up when you see them and enjoy them within a couple of days. Here we feature them along with dried sour cherries, chicken, toasted walnuts and blue cheese in a flavor-packed salad. When sour cherries are out of season, you can swap in frozen sour cherries; just be sure to thaw them before using.

Mixed green salad with chicken and sour cherry vinaigrette
Photo: Jacob Fox
Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4

Ingredients

  • ½ cup sour cherries, pitted and chopped

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed

  • 3 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme, divided

  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided

  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot

  • 5 ounces mixed salad greens

  • ½ cup crumbled blue cheese

  • ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted (see Tip)

  • ¼ cup dried sour cherries

Directions

  1. Combine sour cherries and sugar in a large bowl; set aside.

  2. Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush chicken with 1/2 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon thyme and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Grill, flipping once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, about 12 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, add vinegar, shallot and the remaining 1 teaspoon thyme and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the cherries. Slowly whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Add greens, cheese, walnuts and dried cherries; toss to coat. Slice the chicken and serve on top of the salad.

Tip

For the best flavor, toast nuts before using in a recipe. To toast chopped nuts, place in a small dry skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

460 Calories
30g Fat
15g Carbs
33g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 3 oz. chicken & 2 cups salad
Calories 460
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 9g
Added Sugars 1g 2%
Protein 33g 66%
Total Fat 30g 38%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 95mg 32%
Vitamin A 1676IU 34%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Vitamin D 5IU 1%
Vitamin E 3mg 18%
Folate 74mcg 19%
Vitamin K 2mcg 2%
Sodium 547mg 24%
Calcium 138mg 11%
Iron 2mg 11%
Magnesium 72mg 17%
Potassium 656mg 14%
Zinc 2mg 18%
Omega 3 2g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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