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Green Salad with Chicken and Buttermilk Dressing

Green Salad with Chicken and Buttermilk Dressing

Photo by Goran Kosanovic For The Washington Post

 

This green salad with chicken, maple-glazed walnuts, fresh chunks of apple and dried cherries in a buttermilk dressing boasts such a variety of tastes, colors and textures that eating it feels like a constant discovery.

* For a spring/summer variation, use berries or cherries instead of the apple.

 

Green Salad with Chicken and Buttermilk Dressing

 

Ingredients

For the dressing:
1/2 cup buttermilk, well shaken
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 scallion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh dill

 

For the salad:
½ cup walnuts pieces
1 ½ tablespoons pure maple syrup
Pinch of salt
4 ounces thin green beans (haricot verte), trimmed
1 head Bibb or Boston lettuce, torn
1 small head Romaine lettuce, torn
2 cups torn cooked chicken (8 ounces) (from ½ medium roasted chicken)
2 stalks celery, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 small red apple, unpeeled, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 tablespoons dried cherries

 

Directions

In a medium bowl whisk together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, lemon juice, zest, mustard, salt and pepper. Then stir in the scallion and dill until combined.

Place the walnuts, maple syrup and salt into a small nonstick skillet over a medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently until the liquid is evaporated and the walnuts are glazed with the syrup and toasted, 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Prepare a bath of ice water in a large bowl. Boil the green beans until they are crisp-tender, 2 minutes, then transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking. Remove from the ice bath, pat dry and cut into 1 ½ inch long pieces.

Place lettuce, chicken, celery, apple, cherries, walnuts and green beans in a large bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat.

Makes 4 servings

Serving size: 3 cups

Dressing yield = ¾ cup

Per serving: Calories 360; Total Fat 19g (Sat Fat 3g); Cholesterol 70mg; Sodium 570mg; Total Carbohydrates 22g; Dietary Fiber 4g; Protein 25g

Copyright 2017 Ellie Krieger. All rights reserved.

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