Apple-Walnut Greens with Chicken Dried Plums & Spiced Pecans

Prep Time 15 minutes    Cook Time 10 minutes     Serves 4

Ingredients

Spiced Pecans:

1 cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Salad:

8 cups (about 8 ounces) mixed salad greens
1 package (6 ounces) fully-cooked grilled chicken strips
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) green beans, blanched
1 cup (about 6 ounces) coarsely chopped dried plums (prunes)
1/2 cup Apple Walnut Vinaigrette (recipe follows) or prepared red wine vinaigrette
1/2 cup (4 ounces) crumbled goat cheese

Directions

Spiced Pecans:

Heat oven to 300ºF. In medium bowl, combine all ingredients; toss to coat. Bake, in even layer on baking sheet, 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally; set aside.

Salad:

In large bowl, combine mixed greens, chicken, green beans, dried plums and Spiced Pecans. Drizzle with Apple Walnut Vinaigrette; toss to coat. Sprinkle with goat cheese; serve immediately.

Apple Walnut Vinaigrette:

In blender, process 1/2 of a peeled, cored and cut-up Granny Smith apple, 1 peeled shallot, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar until smooth. With motor running, slowly add 2/3 cup vegetable oil and 1/3 cup walnut oil until creamy. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Store, covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Tip: – To blanch green beans, cook in salted boiling water just until crisp-tender. Drain; immediately drop into ice water to cool. Drain.

Recipe created by Gale Gand.

Nutritional Information

Calories

655

Cholesterol

46mg

% of Calories from Fat

66%

Total Fat

48g

Sodium

486mg

Carbohydrates

41g

Protein

22g

Fiber

8g

Potassium

865mg