Grilled Spring Equinox Chicken Salad
Use this fresh sauce three ways when making and serving this grilled chicken salad. The make-ahead sauce serves as marinade, grilling baster, and dressing.

Prep Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 27 mins
Servings:
Makes 6 servings.
Ingredients
-
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (2 cups packed)
-
3 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
-
1 tablespoon lime juice
-
1 tablespoon ground cumin
-
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
-
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
-
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
-
1/4 teaspoon salt
-
1/2 cup dry vermouth
-
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/2 pounds)
-
1 cup brown basmati rice
-
1 medium red sweet pepper
-
1 medium green sweet pepper
-
1 medium yellow or orange sweet pepper
-
4 cups spinach, cleaned, stemmed, and cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips
-
1 15-ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
-
1/2 cup whole kernel corn, cooked and drained
-
1/2 cup fat-free dairy sour cream
-
2 teaspoons fat-free milk
-
4 green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
Directions
1.
For Spring Equinox Sauce, combine cilantro, oil, lime juice, cumin, ginger, garlic, red pepper, and salt in a blender container or food processor bowl. Cover and blend or process until nearly smooth.
2.
For marinade, combine vermouth and 3 tablespoons of the sauce in a medium bowl. Place chicken in bowl, turn to coat chicken. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
3.
Meanwhile, cook rice according to package directions; set aside. Seed and quarter the sweet peppers; set aside. Prepare charcoal or gas grill for medium heat. Remove chicken from marinade; reserve marinade. Cook chicken on the rack of the uncovered grill directly over heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until tender and no longer pink, brushing once with reserved marinade halfway through grilling time. Discard remaining marinade. Lightly brush peppers with 1 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil. Place peppers on the grill rack next to the chicken and grill for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Remove peppers and chicken from grill as each are done, and transfer to a cutting board. Slice the peppers and chicken breasts into 1/2-inch strips.
4.
To serve, mound 1/2 cup cooked rice in the center of each of six dinner plates. Surround rice with some spinach. Divide grilled chicken, peppers, pinto beans, and corn among the plates. Combine remaining Spring Equinox Sauce, sour cream, and milk in a small bowl; drizzle some of the mixture over each salad. Sprinkle each salad with green onions. Makes 6 servings.
Food exchanges
2 vegetable, 2 meat, 2 starch, 1 fat.
Nutrition information
Calories 416, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Sodium 499 mg, Carbohydrate 44 g, Fiber 7 g, Protein 31 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 40%, Vitamin C 111%, Iron 29%.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Add Your Review
how-tos
Recommended Recipe:
Mediterranean Frittata
This vegetarian frittata, also called an Italian omelet, contains cheeses, roasted peppers, and olives. Prepared in less than 30 minutes, it makes a delicious entree for breakfast or brunch.
See Recipe

