Spinach, Star Fruit & Pistachio Salad

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bleu cheese, carambola, chicken, chicken salad, cooking for two, entree salad, food, foodie, fruit, lunch for two, pistachio, postaday2011, recipe, red bell pepper, side dishes, spinach, star fruit, vegan, vegetarian

The other night Hubster and I stopped by a grocery store that we don’t normally get to. I was amazed when I spotted a few fresh star fruit, since I haven’t be able to find them in this area since I moved here. I ran over to them and started squeezing them to check their firmness, Hubster looked completely confused and asked what the are. After I replied, the 5-year-old boy in him came out. “They can’t ever taste good if I’ve never seen them in the grocery store before. That’s the ugliest fruit I’ve even seen, they don’t even look good.” I then held up an Ugli fruit for him to view… conversation was derailed.

This day, I did something simplistic and used them in a salad. Two variations, a light vegetarian salad for me and a non-vegetarian entrée salad for him. His final verdict on the fruit? Tastes okay, like a fruit. 🙂 I think star fruit tastes like a light citrusy pear.

Vegetarian & Vegan Version
Spinach, Start Fruit & Pistachio Salad Ingredients:
1 star fruit (sliced), sliced red pepper, pistachios, baby spinach leaves, sesame ginger dressing

Spinach, Star Fruit & Pistachio Salad Directions:
Arrange mixed greens on plate and top with chicken, star fruit, peppers and pistachios. Drizzle with dressing.

Spinach, Star Fruit & Pistachio Side Salad

Meat Eaters Entrée Salad Variation
Ingredients:
1 Spinach, Star fruit and Pistachio salad from above, 1 chicken breast, teriyaki sauce, bleu cheese crumbles, raspberry vinaigrette dressing (in place of sesame ginger dressing)

Directions:
Marinate chicken in teriyaki breast and grill. Slice chicken and arrange on salad. Sprinkle with bleu cheese and drizzle with dressing.

Chicken, Spinach, Star Fruit & Pistachio Entrée Salad

I prefer this with sesame ginger dressing, Hubster enjoys his was raspberry vinaigrette, you combo might be different…

What recipe do you make two different variations, for you and your spouse/partner?

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Waldorf Chicken Salad Cups

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chicken, chicken salad, food, lunch, recipe, salad, waldorf chicken salad, waldorf salad

Here’s my spin of a great classic: serve Waldorf chicken salad in apple cups.

Waldorf Chicken Salad served in Apple Cups

Apple Cup Directions:
Core the apple, being careful not to cut through the bottom or sides. Scoop out the apple pulp (and set aside in lemon juice) leaving 1/4″ walls. Soak apple cups in lemon juice.
*Use a melon baller for this job!

Salad Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, 1-2 sweet apples, 2 celery stalks, 1/2 c. chopped walnuts, lemon juice, 1 c. mayo (or plain yogurt), 1 c. sour cream, freshly ground sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper

Salad Directions:
Cook chicken, cool and cube. Dice celery. Dice apple, discarding core. Add apple chunks to lemon juice. Mix chicken, apple and celery chunks. Mix together mayo, sour cream, walnuts, salt and pepper. Mix together all ingredients and keep chilled.

Chicken Salad Apple Cup

To Serve:
Remove the prepared apples from lemon juice. Scoop chicken salad into apple hollow and serve.

Mmm… this would also be a great way to serve my curried chicken salad!

*If making several of these, use different varieties of apples for the cups.

*No utensils necessary, just pick up and eat!

What’s your unique way of serving one of your favorite foods?

Curried Chicken Salad

Tags

chicken, chicken salad, lunch recipe, pita, recipe, sandwich, tea sandwich, wrap

Once in a while I enjoy lunch at a local brewery. Despite their menu changing seasonally, my favorite remains a staple. I crave their curried chicken salad often, so tonight I made my own.

Curried Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 3 stalks celery, 1 c. red seedless grapes, 1 medium apple, 1 c. mayo, 1 heaping Tbs. curry powder, lemon juice, 1 Tbs. mince onions, whole wheat Pitas or whole wheat wraps, lettuce

Directions:
Cook the chicken breast using your favorite method (grill, bake, boil, etc…) and set aside to cool. Mix together mayo, curry and minced onions. Chop celery into small pieces. Core and cube apple, dip in lemon juice. Slice grapes in half and set aside. Mix together curry mayo, chicken, celery, grapes and apples. Open pita or wrap, line with lettuce and scoop in some curried chicken salad.

My notes on this chicken salad:
I my like chicken salad to have large filling chunks in it, chicken salad should not be spreadable (not canned chicken for me). I always use golden delicious apples. Anytime I use curry, I use metal or glass bowl to prepare, store and serve it. Plastic and wooden bowl seem to absorb the curry. I like to slice avocados and add them to my pita. Yum!

Enjoy! Now if only I have a cherry kriek or raspberry lambic…